Educators are being urged to attend an important early childhood event this Friday 5 April at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. Organised by the Riverina branch of the peak body, Early Childhood Australia (ECA), the event will examine cultural competency in the early childhood setting. Keynote speaker and early childhood consultant, Ms Catharine Hydon will explore aspects of reconciliation in practice and alignment with the Early Years Learning Frameworks (EYLF) and National Quality Standards (NQS). Ms Carol Burgess, from the School of Teacher Education at CSU in Bathurst, said, “At the core of quality early childhood programs are children and their relationships with others,” Ms Burgess said. “Promoting positive relationships is fundamental to building strong relationships that respect individual differences, celebrate diversity and build cultural competence. Educators who seek to strengthen their work in this area would find it of great benefit to attend this presentation.”  Ms Hydon will deliver her keynote address from 9am to 12noon at the Wine and Food Industry Training Centre, building 412, McKeown Drive, near CSU Winery, Wagga Wagga.  

The death of the orphaned platypus, Millie, who was found on the Murrumbidgee River near Wagga Wagga, could increase the knowledge for future platypus rescues. “Millie was doing so well despite her ticks and anaemia but unfortunately died over the weekend,” said Dr Joanne Connolly, a senior lecturer with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “Millie was initially responding well to care but she went off her food despite all attempts to tempt her to eat. Rearing milk-dependent platypuses usually has a relatively poor prognosis, but we were optimistic as Millie adapted so well. We started her on antibiotics and gave her subcutaneous fluids. I spoke to two zoo vets with some platypus experience and an expert on Theileria blood parasite infection in cattle, but nobody had treated Theileria in the platypus or small mammals before. A post-mortem examination has been carried out at the University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory but we are still awaiting the results of microbiology and histology. Millie has raised public awareness of some of the most amazing wildlife right here on our doorstep in Wagga Wagga. We hope to further describe Theileria in the platypus to assist other veterinarians when they rescue platypuses with this parasite infection.” Dr Connolly has praised the staff at the Moorong Veterinary Clinic for their role in getting the platypus the treatment she required. “Millie has really brought the community, veterinarians, Charles Sturt University clinicians and researchers together. I would like in particular to thank Adrian Rykmans and his mother Judy for rescuing the platypus and WIRES for its advice.”  

Agricultural industries in Victoria will see a new provider in agricultural education start operations with the inaugural Orientation Day for students studying agricultural degrees at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Wangaratta Centre. The event will run from 12 noon to 4pm on Tuesday 19 February at CSU partner GOTAFE’s facility in Wangaratta. Academic staff delivering the agriculture and agricultural business management degrees offered from Wangaratta will welcome the students and provide advice on the courses and study expectations. Students will learn via supported distance education and come from locations across regional Victoria. “Orientation Day is a chance for new students to meet up with their fellows at the start of their course to make important connections. They can also acquaint themselves with CSU services that can assist them in their study, including library and study support services, and see the Wangaratta facilities first-hand,” said CSU centre manager, Ms Robyn Farley. Current CSU student, Mr Tom Madden, will also speak to the new students about what to expect and how to get the most from their studies. Around 20 students studying agricultural degrees, predominantly the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management, are expected to attend.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic has stated surprise over the latest public debate about breastfeeding in public. A rally of breastfeeding woman was held in the heart of Sydney on Monday 21 January in protest against on-air comments on television show Sunrise about a need for nursing mothers to be “discreet” and “classy” when breastfeeding in public. Ms Pam Shackleton, a lecturer in nursing and midwifery from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Wagga Wagga, said, “Of course women should and will breastfeed when and where their babies demand. Modesty and discretion have nothing to do with the issue of breastfeeding. It is well established that ‘breast is best’ and as a midwife and an academic, I support the right of women to breastfeed their babies in public in a manner they see fit.  Babies don’t wait when they are hungry; breast feeding is natural and gives the little people the best start in life.  When it comes to breastfeeding, women don’t need to be told how to do it in public.”  

There was a genuine display of delight and surprise by first-year Charles Sturt University (CSU) student, Ms Courtney Turner, when the 18 year old learnt of her $20 000 win in the ‘You + CSU’ competition. While at work for Australia Post in Wagga Wagga this week, Ms Turner was told she had won the competition. After attending Kooringal High School in 2012, Ms Turner received an early offer to study a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at CSU in Albury-Wodonga this year. In its second year, the ‘You + CSU’ competition required entrants to upload a video describing what their ultimate CSU experience would be like. In addition to winning $20 000 towards the cost of her first year education expenses, Ms Turner is the University’s Digital Ambassador for 2013. Ms Turner has credited one of the ideas in her video to her father. “My careers advisor at school let me know about the competition in the middle of last year,” Ms Turner said. “During a subsequent family brainstorming session, my father came up with the idea of world domination and I thought to use a white board and the Ten Commandments. Winning this competition will not only benefit me but help ease the financial pressure on my family at home.” Ms Turner plans to live on campus at Thurgoona during her first year at CSU. You can watch Ms Turner’s reaction to her win and view her winning 'Me + CSU = World Domination!' video here. Further information about how to apply to study at CSU is available here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will close for the Christmas-New Year break from 12.30pm on Friday 21 December and will re-open on Wednesday 2 January 2013. Best wishes to all our readers from the CSU Media team.

Well known Australian social researcher, Dr Hugh Mackay, has urged Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduates to “stay connected” during his occasional address at a ceremony in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 11 December. Dr Mackay delivered his speech to 272 graduates from the Faculty of Arts. Dr Mackay told the students that within the next 15 years, Australian households will have shrunk to the point where about one-third of households will contain only one person. “Although many people choose to live alone, and do so quite happily – at least for some period of their lives – others experience feelings of aching loneliness, isolation and even alienation,” he said. “During your working lives, about 40 per cent of contemporary marriages will have dissolved, and about 25 per cent of dependent children will be raised by only one of their natural parents. Social indicators like those and many others point to increasing dislocation and fragmentation, a continuation of our well-documented epidemics of anxiety and depression, and growing problems of marginalisation and social exclusion.” Dr Mackay told the graduates that they were needed because Australia needs “creative artists to inspire and entertain us, teachers to expand our horizons and help us set our priorities, and welfare and human services workers to support us and bind up our wounds”. Dr Mackay added that a degree from CSU had given graduates training in a specialised field of knowledge and practice that would open doors to many jobs but he said the most important thing was to remain connected to the people we work with and the people we love. Read Dr Mackay’s full Occasional Address by clicking here. Read more about graduation at CSU in Wagga Wagga in December 2012 here.

Delegates from Changzhou University in Jiangsu, China, were impressed when they visited Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on a recent fact finding mission. Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner welcomed the group on Friday 14 December, telling them CSU was interested in developing a long-term collaborative relationship with Changzhou University, located about 200 kilometres northwest of Shanghai. “Changzhou University has a fruit and table grape growing program and the delegation was interested in how we have developed our wine science and agricultural science practices,” Mr Lindner said. While at CSU, the group toured the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, as well as CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and the new National Life Science Hub (NaLSH). Mr Lindner said delegation members showed a lot of interest in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, professional development for academic staff and research programs for a new School of Food Safety. “It’s early days yet but the group was impressed with Charles Sturt University’s approach and results for teaching and researching agricultural production and specifically how they could develop a wine tourism industry.” 

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Vinten, a manufacturer of broadcast equipment, have celebrated a decade of supporting television production students. Through the Charles Sturt University Foundation, the company has funded scholarships for the past 10 years. Now valued at $3 000, the Vinten Scholarship is awarded annually to a second and third year Bachelor of Arts (Television Production) students. Two students are selected after being tested on their knowledge of using a Vinten Studio Camera Pedestal. In 2012, Vinten scholarships were awarded to students Mr Cal Wood from Melbourne and Ms Natasha Cleary from Sydney. Mr Wood said, "My goal of becoming a professional camera operator is now a step closer. Winning this award means that my primary skill as a camera operator will be improved by a broader understanding of crew roles in a studio.” Ms Cleary thanked Vinten for her scholarship, adding, “It means that I can continue my studies with ease and it has given me even more motivation to do the very best in my studies". Vinten Strategic Planning and Project Manager, Mr Andrew Butler, said, "Our 10 years of supporting Charles Sturt University students reflects the outstanding work by the University in preparing world-class camera operators. The scholarship scheme demonstrates our commitment to producing the industry’s future talent, and we’re proud that we have been able to contribute financially as well as supporting the students learning their skills using Vinten equipment in partnership with the University."