Senior citizens from the Mid North Coast are helping Charles Sturt University (CSU) paramedic students enhance their clinical assessment skills. The volunteer 'patients' are examined by students studying the Bachelor of Clinic Practice (Paramedic) at CSU in Port Macquarie. CSU paramedic lecturer Ms Tania Johnston said, "Since last year I have been inviting community volunteers to assist our paramedic students practice and develop the skills they learn in class. Most recently we had five senior citizens come in to act as 'patients', to be interviewed and assessed by second-year students. We do it in the style of 'speed dating', whereby the students spend approximately 15-20 minutes with each volunteer before moving to the next one. It serves to build student confidence in communicating with elderly people, as well as practicing basic assessment techniques. Our 'patients' are keen to provide feedback and give the students an idea of what they will face when they get out into the real world of paramedic practice." Another session is planned on campus in Port Macquarie on Wednesday 6 May with approximately seven volunteers from the local Probus Club and University of the Third Age. In an additional arrangement with staff at the Bethany Aged Care Nursing Home, third-year CSU paramedic students will visit on Tuesday 28 April to practice their cardiac assessment and history-taking skills with residents. "The community of Port Macquarie has been exceptionally engaged with the University and we appreciate the high level of support from our seniors groups," said Ms Johnston.

Religious freedom in Australia is the focus of the first 2015 Exploration Series free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie on Wednesday 25 March. Right Reverend Professor Stephen Pickard, the Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture and Professor of Theology at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Canberra, will speak about 'Religious freedom and the future of Christianity in a multi-faith and secular Australia'. His lecture will explore the character of civil society and a vision for the common good. Reverend Professor Pickard was formerly head of the CSU School of Theology for nine years, and is also Assistant Bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. The CSU public lecture is from 5pm to 7pm Wednesday 25 March at The Glasshouse Theatre, corner of Clarence and Hay Streets, Port Macquarie. For more information please contact Ms Alison Woods on (02) 6582 9334 or alwoods@csu.edu.au.

Students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie have won the 2014 inter-campus blood donation challenge set by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. On a 'per head' basis relative to the size of all CSU campuses, the staff and students at CSU in Port Macquarie made more blood donations during 2014 than the other CSU campuses. To celebrate this achievement, Mr Greg French from the Red Cross presented a plaque to CSU's student Red Cross Ambassador Ms Ashleigh Barker at a celebratory luncheon at 12:30pm Wednesday 4 March at the campus in Port Macquarie. Ms Barker said, "I am really impressed that the students and staff at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie have been able to make such a large number of blood donations in 2014. It is even more impressive that we have beaten larger more established CSU campuses in the Red Cross Blood Donation Challenge. I thank all the students and staff here. We aim to increase the number of donations in 2015 and hope to win the challenge for a second time." Mr French also used this opportunity to promote the commencement of the 2015 Red Cross Inter-campus Challenge at CSU.

The largest group of new students to arrive at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie since the campus opened in 2012 will begin their university experience with the 2015 Orientation Week from Monday 23 February. Professor Ross Chambers, Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, said, "We are very pleased to welcome our largest commencing cohort since CSU opened its campus here in 2012. We are attracting wonderful students both from our immediate local region and from the Mid-North Coast and across the ranges. They are enriching the life of the University and making an important contribution to their community by supporting the development of higher education in our region.  We wish them every success." CSU anticipates approximately 254 new full-time students on campus for courses in 2015. These will be joined by approximately 200 returning students, showing the strong growth of the new CSU campus in Port Macquarie. The schedule of events includes:Monday 23 – 9.30am 'Get Hooked Up' (student ID card and wireless connection) at Student Central at Grant Street; 10.30am Official Commencement Ceremony; accommodation information; 12pm 'meet and greet' market day, and welcome barbeque; afternoon info sessions; 6.30pm private movie screening at Majestic Cinema.Tuesday 24 – 3.30pm Beach games, snacks, refreshments at Town Beach.Wednesday 25 – 11am School courses information session, room 115, Grant Street; 12.30pm welcome lunch; 1.30pm courses information sessions continued; 4.30pm twilight hockey and barbeque at Hockey Club.Thursday 26 – 10am Course information sessions continued; 5pm tennis, pool and putt-putt at T's Tennis Court.Friday 27 – 10am Amazing Race at Town Green; 8pm Toga Party at The Macquarie.More details can be found here. A diverse range of courses have been developed at CSU in Port Macquarie, with the most popular including criminal justice, clinical science (paramedic), medical radiation science, education (K-12), psychology, and social work.

A new initiative in Port Macquarie will help find accommodation for more than 200 new Charles Sturt University (CSU) students, many from outside the area, who will start at the University in 2015. The University has joined with Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast and Port Macquarie Hastings Council to promote the need for flexible accommodation options that will suit students and benefit property owners in the city. The organisations will launch the 'Affordable Housing' campaign at 10.30am Thursday 19 February at CSU in Port Macquarie. Professor Ross Chambers, the Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, said, "Charles Sturt University strongly supports this initiative, and thanks and congratulates Regional Development Australia on the Mid North Coast and the Hastings community on it. Accommodation options like these are greatly needed and very valuable for students. Support like this from the community will make Port Macquarie a wonderful destination for students and have a big impact on the quality of the student experience." Property owners in Port Macquarie who are interested to 'turn their spare room into spare cash' by renting accommodation to CSU students can contact Ms Helen Atkins on 6582 9350 or email hatkins@csu.edu.au. Alternatively, they can log on to csu.studystays.com – it's easy, free, and photos can be added.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie and Port Macquarie Hastings Council hosted a farewell afternoon tea yesterday for retiring CSU Chancellor Mr Lawrie Willett, AO. The farewell was jointly hosted by Professor Ross Chambers, the Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, and the Mayor of Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Councillor Peter Besseling. Professor Chambers said, "As Chancellor of Charles Sturt University for a decade, Mr Willett was instrumental in supporting the establishment of the University on the Mid North Coast. During his time at the University there has been significant growth and development across all campuses, and his commitment to rural and regional Australia will leave a lasting legacy." The farewell was held at Port Macquarie Hastings Council Chambers, corner of Lord and Burrawan Streets, Port Macquarie, at 3pm Monday 24 November. Guests included Councillors, business and community leaders in Port Macquarie.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie will host the Mid North Coast Science Festival on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November. The Festival is a partnership between the Mid North Coast Regional Science Hub and the Australian Museum. It is designed to educate school students and the wider community about the benefits science brings, its important role in everyday life, and the diverse career opportunities available in the field. Additional activities will be held at St Columba Anglican School and Port Macquarie High School. Mr Johnathan Hewis, medical imaging lecturer in the CSU School of Dentistry and Health Sciences and MNC Regional Science Hub spokesperson, said, "I believe the Science Festival is a wonderful collaborative initiative to showcase science within the local community and will act as a springboard for the Science Hub to promote and encourage interest in the areas of science, engineering and technology, through future community events." Students will participate in activities such as the Ruben the Surfing Scientist Show, hands-on experiments, Indigenous science, chemistry, 'Winnysaur' (a four-metre life-size dinosaur puppet), and multiple science workshops. The general public can visit the Science Festival from 9am to 3pm during the two days.

Grants totalling $13 250 have been made by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie to ten organisations in the Mid North Coast region. Professor Ross Chambers, the Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, said the Community-University Partnership (CUP) grants support a range of schools and community-based groups. "The University is proud to provide these grants to assist schools, sport and cultural groups to conduct activities that benefit their students and members," Professor Chambers said. "The CUP program supports Charles Sturt University's engagement with its communities, and has been enthusiastically supported on the Mid North Coast. The program demonstrates the wide range of ways in which a university in a regional setting is able to work with and add value to its community." The grants were made under three distinct CSU CUP programs; the Rural and Regional Schools Development Program, the Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program, and the Rural and Regional Sports Development Program. Learn more about the CSU CUP here.

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga will put comfort aside in sleep outs during September to raise money for the not-for-profit organisation, Street Swags. Supported by CSU's Office for Students, the students are supporting Swagtember and the purchase of street swags for people unable to find accommodation. Students are being encouraged to register with Swagtember and get sponsored to spend a night away from home. A range of activities have been organised to keep students entertained throughout the night including music, karaoke, movies, a pillow fight tournament and a barbecue breakfast. The sleep outs will be held from 7.30 pm to 7.30 am starting: - Thursday 18 September, HeBrews Cafe, Munster Street, CSU in Port Macquarie. An outdoor cinema will show three movies during the sleep out.- Thursday 18 September, The Hub, building 20, CSU in Wagga Wagga.- Tuesday 23 September, Learning Teaching Hub, building 754 at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. A free soup dinner will be provided by the Uniting Church group from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm followed by a guest speaker from Youth Emergency Services to talk about local youth homeless. A Zumba class will be held on Wednesday 24 September from 6.30 am followed by a barbecue breakfast.-  Wednesday 24 September, Templers Mill Bar at CSU in Orange.