A Charles Sturt University (CSU) campus has only just been established in Port Macquarie but already the University is engaging with local high school students to highlight the benefits of being able to undertake tertiary study in the region. Ms Sandra Wallace, School Outreach Coordinator at CSU in Port Macquarie, said, “Approximately 200 Year 10 students from St Paul’s High School will attend three 90-minute Future Moves workshops on Friday 30 March. The Future Moves workshops are designed to build aspiration among prospective students for tertiary study. They aim to encourage students to become more engaged in exploring their future career options and more confident in considering tertiary study as a realistic choice within their career path. We held similar workshops for about 200 Year 10 students at St Joseph’s Regional College on Monday 19 March and the feedback was very positive, so we’re looking forward to engaging with students at St Paul’s.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from the Port Macquarie will be participating in the nationwide Garage Sale Trail this Saturday 22 October 2016 to raise funds for the Jacob Berry Memorial Scholarship.The group is raising funds in memory of their friend, 23-year-old CSU student Jacob Berry who tragically passed away in a bicycle accident whilst overseas this year.Jacob had just graduated from the Bachelor of Clinical Science (Paramedic) and a $5 000 scholarship has now been established to honour his life. The scholarship will be available from 2017 to paramedicine students studying at CSU in Port Macquarie.This weekend, CSU students will be helping to raise funds for the scholarship. They will be selling second hand goods as well as plenty of steak sandwiches. Local butchers, Meltique Beef have donated all the steaks and the local council as well as a two local churches are also involved.Friends of Jacob's from CSU Jack Dowd and Ashley Hendry are among those who'll be helping this weekend.Jacob's friends and family described him in a statement as, "A graduate, a much loved son, a brother and a great friend to so many who had the fortune to meet him. He loved surfing and being in the water and was a qualified dive master. He was also an aspiring musician and enjoyed the adventures that traveling gave him. His passing has left a void in the lives of all that knew him."Berry Financial Services, Rydges and CSU have created the Jacob Berry Memorial Scholarship to enable Port Macquarie paramedicine students to realise their dreams.The Port Macquarie contribution to the national Garage Sale Trail is taking place at CSU, 7 Major Innes Road from 9am – 1pm and a barbeque will be available as well as many pre-loved items.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is hosting the Building Respect and Safety event as an opportunity for students, staff and community to keep building a culture of respect.The Building Respect and Safety event will take place at 4pm on Wednesday 21 September in Room 808.2047 at CSU in Port Macquarie and will include a free viewing of The Hunting Ground. This documentary film exposes the rates of sexual assault at American universities and provides a chance to discuss the issues of safety, respect and consent.CSU Student Liaison Officer (Equity), Ms Cathy Woodhead said, "Students are invited to attend this event which will culminate in an open discussion on the issue, led by professionals from the local Port Macquarie Hastings community who respond to sexual assault."Charles Sturt University hopes to be one organisation taking the lead to prevent sexual violence in our community and we are hoping this screening and conversation will continue to strengthen the University as a place of respect and understanding."Building Respect and Safety at CSU in Port Macquarie is part of the University's roll out of the Australia wide campaign Respect. Now. Always. which strives to prevent sexual assault and harassment in university communities.  As well as the screening of The Hunting Ground and discussion of the issues of sexual assault and harassment, CSU will be providing guests with a pizza supper.For students and staff members at CSU, a website has been developed to provide them with resources, information, the opportunity to get involved in the campaign, advice for how to help, and how to report and access support services www.csu.edu.au/respect.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is pleased to announce that it will welcome its first intake of international students at Port Macquarie in 2017.Vice-Chancellor of CSU Professor Andrew Vann is also pleased to announce 20 new scholarships which will be available to international students studying at CSU in Port Macquarie."I am excited to welcome international students to our new campus in the coastal city of Port Macquarie in New South Wales for 2017," Professor Vann said. "Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie offers students a world-class experience in state-of-the-art teaching facilities and innovative learning spaces, all alongside the opportunity to be part of a friendly and vibrant community of students and academics."The Vice-Chancellor's Port Macquarie International Scholarships are valued at $20,000 and $10,000, and are available to commencing full-time international students studying any CSU course delivered at Port Macquarie. Applications are open until 30 September 2016.Head of Campus for CSU in Port Macquarie and Pro-Vice Chancellor, International Education and Partnerships, Professor Heather Cavanagh, said welcoming international students to the campus would benefit both the University and the wider community."For international students an Australian study experience is not just about getting a qualification but also about immersing themselves into our lifestyle, culture and workforce in order to have a meaningful experience."We are thrilled that Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie will gain international students from next year as we've seen from our other campus cities the benefits that flow through to the community, including gaining new long-term residents who contribute to the cultural and economic vibrancy of the region. And for the students we can't wait share with them the wonderful location, climate and lifestyle that is Port Macquarie, not to mention our new campus facilities."From Session 1 2017 CSU in Port Macquarie will have the following courses available to international students: accounting, advertising, business studies, criminal justice, clinical practice (paramedic), exercise and sports science, graphic design, medical radiation science, public relations, psychology, social science (psychology), outdoor recreation and ecotourism, and social work.

Two local graphic design students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) have won a design competition aimed at creating an effective logo for an upcoming youth literary festival to be held in Port Macquarie next year.Mr Michael Jurss and Ms Kseah Cowan are currently completing a Bachelor of Creative Arts & Design (Graphic Design) at CSU in Port Macquarie , and were given the opportunity to participate in a real-life brief for LitFest2444. As a result, they secured a $200 gift voucher and a certificate of acknowledgement.LitFest2444 is the brainchild of St Agnes Parish Schools' teacher librarians, Karen Bale (St Joseph's Regional College) and Suzanne Penson (MacKillop College), who wanted to increase literacy skills, as an employable skill into the future, whilst celebrating up and coming Australian authors of youth literature."The winning design from Michael and Kseah features a lighthouse with a pen nib at the top, radiating light beams in the dark. To us this symbolises the way in which the festival aims to guide local youth towards a future full of hope and prospect, through literature," said Karen Bale.The CSU students teamed up after discovering how their preferred skill areas, in fine arts and digital design, complemented each other. They also credited their study in being able to meet the brief.Mr Jurss said, "Our lecturer was really supportive and opened up the opportunity for us to engage with the competition, to learn about collaborating in a real world situation. This also gave us the chance to strengthen our negotiation skills; important to remember when working for others, as opposed to just expressing yourself creatively. We are certainly excited about seeing the logo on promotional material."The festival has also received funding through the CSU Community-University Partnership (CUP) Program and has assisted in securing high quality speakers and presenters to share their ideas and experiences with local youth.LitFest2444 will be held in May 2017 at MacKillop College and will be open to all secondary students across the Port Macquarie Hastings local government area.

More than 280 students will start their universities studies in Port Macquarie with Orientation Week (O Week) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) next week.O Week will run from Monday 22 February until Friday 26 February and involve a series of academic and social activities to help familiarise students with university study, their course, peers and campus."O Week blends serious and social activities to introduce students from around Australia to their new lives of study and education," Head of Campus Professor Heather Cavanagh said."We have been very pleased to see a 15 per cent increase in the number of undergraduate on campus students studying at CSU in Port Macquarie compared to 2015.  The undergraduate courses in greatest demand for study in 2016 in Port Macquarie are criminal justice, clinical science (paramedic), medical radiation science, teacher education and creative arts and design.""In addition the new Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie campus is due to open later in 2016 and we look forward to increasing our teaching and research capacity as we move to the new 12 hectare site," Professor Cavanagh said.Dean of Students Professor Julia Coyle said, "O Week is a fun, happy and hectic time for all involved – new students, their parents and carers, and our staff – as there is much to learn as students consider their new lives in higher education.""The shift from school to university means students become adult learners. This transition may be difficult for parents who need to shift from strong engagement as a parent of a school student to only being involved in discussion with lecturers if their young adult gives permission," Professor Coyle said.More than 3 000 new on campus undergraduate students will be welcomed across all of CSU for the first session of 2016 starting Monday 29 February. There have also been O Week activities this week for more than 6 700 new CSU Online students who are studying remotely.More information about activities happening at CSU O-week in Port Macquarie is available online www.csu.edu.au/oncampus/events/o-week/on-campus.

The first students enrolled in courses at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie will commence their studies with Orientation Week. Activities start this Thursday 23 February at 4pm with the official welcome to the campus for around 30 new students and their parents and friends by the newly-appointed Campus Director, Dr Muyesser Durur, and CSU Dean of Studies, Professor Ken Dillon. “Students will get to meet their teaching staff and find out what it’s like to study and work at university,” Dr Durur said. The students will then receive information on the CSU library, support services and academic advice. The new students in Port Macquarie are enrolled in such diverse CSU courses as business studies, social work, and health and rehabilitation science.

Representatives of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and North Coast TAFE (NCTAFE) will meet in Port Macquarie on Thursday 5 July to implement a formal governance process between the parties to enhance provision of higher education programs for the Mid North Coast region. Dr Muyesser Durur, Campus Director of CSU in Port Macquarie, said, “Charles Sturt University has established a governance structure to provide overall leadership to guide strategy and implementation, including planning, monitoring and risk assessment of all facets for the successful development and sustainable growth of the University in Port Macquarie. The CSU-NCTAFE joint management committee is one of the key elements of the overall governance mechanism in place to achieve this.” The focus of the Governance Steering Committee at CSU in Port Macquarie is to plan, support and facilitate the collaboration between North Coast TAFE and the University in accordance with federal Structural Adjustment Fund (SAF) agreements and milestones.

Mid North Coast residents can see what university study is all about at an information day for Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie on Thursday 29 August. The day aims to show prospective students and other visitors the courses, facilities and support CSU can offer. School Outreach Coordinator Ms Sandra Wallace said it was perfect for school leavers and TAFE students thinking of furthering their study, as well as those already working looking to improve their employment prospects or thinking of a career change. “Prospective students can meet with Charles Sturt University and North Coast TAFE academics to learn about courses on offer and entry pathways,” she said. “Prospective students will hear about the range of support services available and how the University can help them further their education and improve their career.” Representatives from the Universities Admissions Centre will also be on hand to help answer questions about the enrolment process. If you’re considering studying justice studies and policing, business, accounting, medical imaging, social work, health science, the creative industries, social science or psychology, or in becoming a paramedic, this day is for you.”