Accessibility and human rights, instead of rigid funding models, should be the priorities when planning health care services for rural and remote Australia says Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor of Rural and Remote Pharmacy Patrick Ball. “A model of health care funding for rural and remote Australia should be developed based on fundamental human rights and access to services rather than ‘bricks and mortar’,” Professor Patrick Ball said. The CSU academic studied two communities in central west NSW between 2006 and 2008 as part of his examination of the provision of health services outside metropolitan Australia. “We have the evidence to show that what is needed by rural and remote areas is more flexibility in allowing individual communities to meet their health needs and more emphasis on access to services rather than what hospital and which health facilities are located where.” Professor Patrick Ball will present a free public lecture on his research from 6pm in Temora on Wednesday 27 October.

Staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are gearing up to participate in the national Ride to Work day  on Wednesday 13 October. Groups of at five of the University’s campuses will cycle to work. “The Ride to Work program encourages workers to feel good and have fun by commuting to work by bike and experiencing the health, financial and environmental benefits of riding,”  cyclist and Manager of CSU Green Mr William Adlong said. “We have not only regular riders who will be taking part, but also staff members who usually drive their cars to work.” CSU has participated in the Ride to Work event for at least five years. A recent follow-up survey for the national Ride to Work program shows 39 percent of first-time commuters are now riding to work at least once per month and 55 percent are riding more often than this time last year.

Under the night sky of West Wyalong, two Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics will be discussing the attempts by astrophysicists to unravel some of the mysteries of dark energy and matter in the universe. A free public lecture, What is our Universe made of? will be held in the Bland Shire Council Chambers in West Wyalong from 6pm on Thursday 23 September. Lecturers in physics from the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Dr Allan Ernest and Dr Matt Collins, will present “compelling evidence for the existence of dark matter” in our universe. They will also outline the quantum-based theory of dark matter originally developed by Dr Ernest in 2001, and currently being progressed by the team at CSU to try to understand the nature and origin of dark matter. Contact Ms Julie Sharpe from Bland Shire Council on 02 6972 2266 or send an email.

Internationally acclaimed wetland ecologist, Adjunct Professor David Mitchell, from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will deliver a free public lecture from 6pm in Tumut on Wednesday 15 September entitled Water, Drought and Climate Change. He will discuss developments in the management of water in Australian landscapes. “Concern is currently growing within Australia about the possibility of profound changes in climatic conditions and their potential to undermine many of the strategies that have been developed to sustain necessary agricultural production,” Professor Mitchell said. Professor Mitchell is from the CSU School of Environmental Sciences in Albury-Wodonga and is Principal Researcher at the University’s Institute of Land, Water and Society.

One of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) newest buildings has been named a winner at a regional construction awards ceremony. At the Master Builders Association’s southern-central regions of NSW construction awards, building contractors Burton Constructions received the award for its work on the Kay Hull Veterinary Teaching Hospital at CSU in Wagga Wagga. On Friday 16 July, the building took out the category of Best Commercial Project $2-3 million. The hospital complex opened in April 2010 as a clinical training facility for students in the three final years of their six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at CSU. The judges noted “…the good use of materials, the integration of the hospital with accommodation quarters and the use of the latest technology to provide a functional and low maintenance building”. Read more about the Kay Hull Veterinary Teaching Hospital here.

A team of seven physiotherapy, nursing and paramedic students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will repeat last year’s medical assistance to mountain bike riders in the Tour de Timor race around Timor Leste. CSU physiotherapy lecturer Mr Tim Retchford will this year lead the students in their provision of medical support for the mountainous race. “Last year we treated up to 60 patients a day for everything from knee and back strains to dislocations, abrasions and fractures,” Mr Retchford said. “We dine with the competitors each morning, travel ahead of them to the finish to set up our mobile clinic, and help ‘patch them up’ at the end of leg so the riders can get back into the race the next day. Our students gain invaluable professional experience treating injured athletes as well as witnessing this amazing country and bicycle race up close. It is a fantastic experience.”  The Tour de Timor starts in the capital Dili on Monday 13 September and finishes back in Dili on Friday 17 September. The Tour de Timor is 410 km.

During its fifth anniversary, the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation - a collaborative alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Industry & Investment NSW - will launch its new field site in Wagga Wagga. The 13 hectare field site will be launched from 9am on Wednesday 8 September. The NSW Natural Resources Commissioner, adjunct Professor at CSU, John Williams, will address the field site launch from 9.15am on Optimising food productivity and environmental protection. A program for the launch of the new field site can be found on the EH Graham Centre site. 

A ceremony to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga tomorrow Wednesday 8 September will mark the lengthy contributions made by numerous staff to the development of the institution for the past three decades. A lunch hosted by Head of Campus in Wagga Wagga Mr Adrian Lindner will be held at CSU in Wagga Wagga to honour 10 staff who have worked for CSU and its predecessor institutions for 20 or 30 years. Lecturer with the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences  Mr Warren Lusby and document production officer with the Division of Learning and Teaching Services Ms Lynda Lawrence will be recognised for 30 years of service at this ceremony. A second ceremony will be held for a further nine staff on Tuesday 21 September. Those receiving the 30 year honour at this event include Ms Cheryl Honey, contracts officer with the Division of Facilities Management, senior lecturer with the School of Information Studies Mr Roy Sanders and production officer Mr John Jones from the School of Communication and Creative Industries.

Four school students will make a difference to their charity of choice through a Charles Sturt University (CSU) social justice award. The Social Justice Innovation Award offered through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU gives teenagers a platform to write about Making a Difference. The judges included senior social work lecturer, Dr Bill Anscombe, and poet and recently-retired English lecturer, Mr David Gilbey. “Although we only advertised the competition in NSW and the ACT, we also received entries from Victoria and the Northern Territory. This highlights the fact that there are a lot of school students with writing talents keen to be involved in the project,” Dr Anscombe said. They winners of Making a Difference 2010 are Mr Kieran Hennessy from Great Lakes Tuncurry Senior High School, Mr Reid Butler from Merewether High School,  Ms Alexandra Jones from Pymble Ladies College and Ms Tara Whitsed of Corryong College.  Their nominated charities, World Vision, Red Cross, Love146 and beyondblue will each receive $250 from CSU.