An expert recognised Australia-wide for research to assist people with disabilities will deliver a free public lecture during a national conference to be hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie next week.Emeritus Professor Max Coltheart, AM, who was founding Scientific Director of the Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, has worked around Australia and in the United Kingdom and Canada in an academic career spanning 50 years.Professor Coltheart will speak on the nature of cognitive science during his public presentation, which is free to the general public. It will start at 4pm on Friday 8 December at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie, in room 2062.The emeritus professor was recognised for his services to people with learning difficulties in 2010 when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).The 'Cognition on the Coast' Conference, the biennial meeting of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science, will be held on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 December at CSU in Port Macquarie, and is hosted by the CSU School of Psychology.The two-day conference will address such diverse topics as animal cognition, heuristics and biases in emergencies and disasters, cognitive psychology applications for teaching, and much more.Conference convenor and CSU academic Dr Glenn Carruthers said, "We are thrilled to be bringing together researchers from Australia, the US, Israel, Chile, Canada, New Zealand, and Serbia to discuss some of the most exciting and troubling issues in the study of the mind."This is also an exciting opportunity to showcase the high quality work being done in regional universities in Australia."

What: emerge: CSU Graphic Design Graduate ExhibitionWhere: Charles Sturt University, 7 Major Innes Road, Port MacquarieWhen:  Friday 1 December from 6pmTickets: Event BriteAn exhibition of graduating graphic design students' work showcasing cutting edge designs for contemporary life, will be opened at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie on Friday 1 December.The emerge: Graphic Design Graduate Exhibition displays the work of the first-ever graduating cohort of students who studied the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Graphic Design) in the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Port Macquarie.CSU graphic design lecturer Ms Willhemina Wahlin said, "We are immensely proud of the work in this exhibition featuring some innovative pieces from graduating and second year graphic design students' work."The exhibition will be of interest to the whole community because graphic design is all around us and influences the choices we make about what we buy and how we live."It will be of particular interest to people in business who might want to hire a graduating designer, as well as potential students and families whose children are thinking of studying design, and educators and professionals in the area."The emerge: Graphic Design Graduate Exhibition will open at 6pm to 9pm on Friday 1 December, at CSU, 7 Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie, with refreshments provided. It will be accessible for viewing until the end of January.Tickets are limited. To RSVP, go to Event BriteMore information is available on the School of Communication and Creative Industries event page and Facebook and on CSU graphic design Facebook. Follow on TWITTER: @CSUGDExhibitionThe exhibition is sponsored by local businesses in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, including The Other Chef, Hastings Co-op, Latin Loafer, Wildwood Festival, Wauchope Bakery, DONE Cold Brew, Doppio or Nothing, and The Settlers Inn.

International students enrolled in courses at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie will be presented with scholarships on Wednesday 20 September.CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, will present seven students from as far as Denmark, India, Nepal and Zimbabwe with scholarships each worth $10 000 to assist them with their tuition fees while they study at CSU in Port Macquarie.The students are currently enrolled in masters and undergraduate courses in accounting and information technology."These scholarships will be awarded to students who have demonstrated experience in community involvement and a strong desire to join the exciting and supportive Port Macquarie community," said Ms Delphine Swat, Associate Director, Marketing and Student Recruitment (International and VET)."They are also a testament of the University's commitment to growing a diverse student body on Charles Sturt University's newest campus."The presentation will be held at 12noon on Wednesday 20 September in room 1026 at CSU, Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie.

People living with disability are looking to higher education as a path to engaging with meaningful activity in their community, particularly in regional areas. But can our regional universities support these aspirations?Researchers from five universities including Charles Sturt University (CSU) are currently investigating the experiences of people with disability who aspire to complete a university course in regional Australia.The research team is now calling for people with disability in regional areas from Wangaratta in Victoria to Port Macquarie in NSW to share their experiences of higher education, particularly those:currently at high school in Years 10 and 11 and who are interested to go to university; and,mature aged people who  haven't been to university but are interested in study."We want to interview volunteers from regional communities to understand their perceptions of higher education. We are investigating the barriers for people with disability in undertaking a university course," said CSU researcher Dr Clare Wilding."The uptake of higher education by people with disability is lower in regional areas than for their city counterparts," Dr Wilding said."According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, people with disability are more likely to have lower levels of educational attainment. Furthermore, data from the bureau showed that there are more people aged 15 to 64 years living with disability in regional areas – around 18 per cent - than those living in major cities, which is 13 per cent. So we should see a higher proportion of students with disability from regional areas attending university.""However, only two per cent of people with disability living in Australia's regional or remote areas are currently studying in higher education, compared with four per cent in a major city."We want to find out why this pattern is happening, and how universities, governments and the community can address the problem," she said.As part of the project, the researchers have already surveyed and interviewed students with disability who are currently enrolled in regional universities."Through this research, we hope to improve access and participation in higher education by regional people with disability, particularly those from a low socio-economic background," Dr Wilding said.The upcoming round of interviews will be conducted using media to suit the volunteer participants: by telephone, instant messaging, Skype, email or face-to-face. People wishing to participate should contact Ms Kate Freire on (02) 6051 9355 or email kfreire@csu.edu.au.The researchers aim to complete and analyse the interviews before the end of 2017, and report final recommendations to the Federal Department of Education by the middle of 2018.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie has gained significant recognition in NSW Mid North Coast after winning three awards last weekend at the region's business awards.The campus won Business Excellence Awards as 'Employer of Choice' and for 'Excellence in Sustainability', while also achieving a Local Industry Award in the 'Community and Education Services' section."Charles Sturt University is proud to have won these awards as a recent newcomer to the region," said acting Head of CSU in Port Macquarie, Mr Greg Linsdell"We have drawn on our long, proud history of providing quality higher education in regional NSW and brought the best elements of this to Port Macquarie."The awards recognise these qualities of sound employment prospects, sustainability and outstanding service to our local communities, which we will continue to develop for the 'public good' of Port Macquarie and the wider North Coast region."Indeed, these awards reflect the essence of our institution encapsulated in 'Yindyamarra Winhanganha', a Wiradjuri phrase meaning, 'the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in'."

Student accommodation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie will reach greater heights next week as new buildings are delivered to the site and rapidly take shape.Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie Professor Heather Cavanagh will be on hand to see the first 'modules' that comprise the bulk of the new buildings placed by a large crane on the accommodation site in Kingfisher Road, next to the campus.The modules will be placed and installed from Monday 29 May until Thursday 1 June."This development is important for both Port Macquarie and the University as it demonstrates our commitment to the Mid North Coast region to provide quality higher education for the region," Professor Cavanagh said."The provision of accommodation allows students from outside the local area as well as international students to participate in the vibrancy and educational stimulation of on-campus life."The University is excited to offer secure accommodation for students enrolled in various degrees at the University in Port Macquarie including science, allied health, paramedicine, tourism, business, accounting, information technology, and social welfare."Stage one of the building project comprises three accommodation buildings accommodating 112 students, with individual bedrooms which include a bed, desk, chair and ensuite bathroom for each student.Communal lounge rooms, laundries and kitchens are also available within each building, with access to student recreational areas in the adjacent Student Hub building which will also enhance the student experience.A total of 250 beds are scheduled to be available in February 2018.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Indigenous student Mr Zane Sparke [pictured right] is looking to fill some big footsteps after his selection for the 2017 Indigenous Marathon Projectsquad to run in the New York Marathon in November this year.Zane, a first-year student in the outdoor recreation degree at CSU in Port Macquarie, and is one of only 12 Indigenous runners selected across Australia to be in the 2017 squad.Squad members were selected on their running ability and their determination to help change their own lives and those of their families and communities.  To celebrate Zane's selection, and in conjunction with National Reconciliation Week, the inspirational documentary film Running to America will be screened at 6.30pm on Monday 29 May.The film features Mr Charlie Maher [pictured left], the first Indigenous Australian to complete the New York Marathon as a part of the Indigenous Marathon Project in 2010.Mr Maher lives in Port Macquarie and will be on-hand to talk about the project and his experiences after the film is shown.Admission is by gold coin donation, with collected funds going towards the local running and walking group. The film will be screened in building 801 at CSU in Port Macquarie, Major Innes Road, Port Macquarie.

A Master's degree in information technology to be offered this year by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie aims to fill the needs of local and international students, and businesses.Coordinator of the Master of Information Technology at CSU in Port Macquarie Dr Sabih Rehman said the course would be offered for the first time on-campus to local students and international students coming to Port Macquarie to study and live."The program enables students to better understand modern concepts of information technology so they can contribute to the development of IT solutions for the region," said Dr Rehman, who is moving from CSU in Wagga Wagga to teach and coordinate the course at CSU in Port Macquarie."The Mid North Coast is one of Australia's most diverse regional economies, boasting a range of industries including retail, construction, transport, tourism, information media, and telecommunication. "The course will fulfil the needs of local industry and their employees who are particularly looking to develop specialised information technology skills."In addition, students from various parts of the world will also call Port Macquarie home while they complete the two-year course."Port Macquarie local Mr Rowan Smith started a Bachelor of Information Technology with CSU Online while working in remote Western Australia as an industrial electrician.Mr Smith originally aimed to improve his understanding of automation technology and has since gained valuable technical skills from the degree, from administration and design to business communication and critical thinking."I now want to pursue knowledge and understanding in current thinking in such specialist topics as cloud computing, information security, and the 'internet of things', which I hope to achieve through postgraduate study," Mr Smith said."Fortunately for me, Charles Sturt University is offering its Master's degree in Port Macquarie to start in July. I can now improve and apply existing knowledge to reach academic and professional goals with the bonus of living in a place I love."Enrolments are still open for the Master of Information Technology to be offered at CSU in Port Macquarie from July this year.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie will welcome more than new 400 students next week with a range of academic and social activities to help them settle into university life.Orientation Week will kick off with an official Commencement Ceremony at 10am on Monday 20 February in Room 2064/5.The Ceremony will be followed by a colourful Market Day from 11am on Monday 20 February in the central campus courtyard.Other O Week highlights include academic sessions, library and laboratory tours, along with social events such as Learn to Surf lessons, trivia nights and BBQs. O Week student leaders are raising money for the McGrath Foundation in 2017 and will be dressed in pink.Lectures and tutorials for all new and continuing students starts at CSU from Monday 27 February.Across the University more than 8 700 students will begin studying at CSU in 2017, 2 800 of those on-campus and nearly 6 000 through CSU online.