A Wiradjuri woman from Wagga Wagga has been appointed to a key position in the four Indigenous Support Units (ISU) covering Charles Sturt University (CSU) campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.  Based in Wagga Wagga, Ms Therese Reid, the Units’ Programs Coordinator oversees the Koori Admissions Program, an alternative admission to university program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme, as well as supporting Indigenous students who travel to CSU for study including many students studying the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health). Ms Reid was the first Indigenous Coordinator at the Ashmont Community Resource Centre in Wagga Wagga for three years and is the daughter of Wagga Wagga Elders’ Group member, Ms Isabel Reid. “Therese’s role in supporting Indigenous students is a critical part of the University’s mission to enhance our communities by promoting Indigenous access, participation and success in tertiary education,” said Executive Director of Student Services at CSU, Mr Andrew Callander.

Detecting heart disease before the symptoms start is the subject of new research by Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher Dr Geoff Currie, a senior lecturer with the University’s School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Wagga Wagga. Dr Currie is looking at the role that the sympathetic nervous pathways can play in that detection. An examination of the body using thermography, or digital infrared imaging, can also screen for other conditions including diabetes, breast cancer and auto-immune disease. Dr Currie, who lectures in nuclear medicine, is researching the potential for thermography as a cheap, effective and mobile instrument for the early detection of disease in rural and remote Australia. He is part of the CSU-initiated Cardiovascular Research Group, which also includes researchers from Wagga Wagga Base Hospital who work collaboratively with other Australian and international universities and hospitals on research projects, from the diagnosis to treatment for heart failure, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors.

Early results from research with Charles Sturt University (CSU) students living on the Wagga Wagga Campus show that they are more likely to reduce their electricity use as a result of ‘social marketing’ strategies than simply having a meter to tell them how much electricity they are using.  The CSU researchers used social marketing techniques that identified the barriers and benefits to encourage students to use less energy, and then developed ways to overcome the barriers, encouraging students to change the way they use energy in their residences. Students who received the social marketing strategies significantly decreased their electricity use by 15 per cent over seven weeks, while students with access to meters only decreased their use by five per cent. Students exposed to these strategies used significantly less electricity than students that received nothing. The next stage of the research is to see what happens if students receive both social marketing and meters in their residences. “We can go a long way to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by just changing our behaviours,” said CSU’s Dr Penny Davidson. The project is supported by the Public Facilities Program under the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund, in collaboration with NSW energy provider Country Energy and electrical display unit manufacturer Ampy.

The emerging and serious health problem, chronic kidney disease, will be examined during a public lecture in Tumut on Wednesday 28 May. The lecture coincides with the national Kidney Health Week 2008 being held from Saturday 24 May to Saturday 31 May. Associate Professor Ann Bonner from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing and Midwifery in Wagga Wagga, will explain chronic kidney disease, its risk factors, optimal healthcare requirements and its impact on individuals, society and the Australian healthcare system. Associate Professor Bonner has practised for more than 20 years as a renal nurse and has developed postgraduate renal nursing courses for universities in NSW and Queensland. Dr Bonner is also involved in collaborative research projects with renal health care clinicians in these states. The lecture, presented by CSU and the Tumut Shire Council, will be held from 6pm in the Montreal Community Theatre, 44-46 Russell St, Tumut. CSU wine and cheese will be served after the lecture.

Volunteers are being sought to assist a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher with a study into the use of computer games technology to portray Einstein's Theory of Relativity. PhD student Mr David Carr says that there has been growing interest in both research and industry in the use of computer games - so-called ‘Serious Games’ - for teaching and training. “Virtual worlds can be programmed to behave according to Newtonian laws of physics, or other rules, that enable us to experience things that are not possible or feasible in real life,” said Mr Carr. “Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which is concerned with travel at close to the speed of light, is a subject which can be visualised through the use of computer software. The aim of my research is to evaluate how this physics can be portrayed in an interactive game, and whether such a game can help people to learn the concepts of relativity. The game was designed with the HSC physics curriculum in mind, so it would be good to hear from high school students in particular, although anyone is welcome. I want to find out if it's fun and if you learn anything from the game.”

Now one of the largest festivals of its type in the world, the 2008 Australian International Animation Festival (AIAF) will be held in Wagga Wagga from Friday 16 May to Sunday 18 May. “This event will give local audiences an up-to-date snapshot of the international creative animation scene,” said Festival co-director, Mr Andrew Hagan from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Visual and Performing Arts. “There will also be digital animation, puppet films and Australian-made films. Young children and teenagers are catered for in the 2008 program as well as a ’Late Night Bizarre’ program for those with a desire for the truly odd and unfathomable.” From more than 2 000 entries, the 2008 Festival will show more than 120 films from 26 countries. The full program for the AIAF 2008 at the Forum 6 Cinema in Trail Street, Wagga Wagga can be found here. Through the Wagga Wagga-based School of Visual and Performing Arts, CSU offers Australia’s only bachelor degree dedicated to the art of animation and visual effects.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student is one of 20 young people from around the world selected to attend the World Council of Churches’ international dialogue centre, the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Switzerland, in July. Second year agricultural science student, Mr David Gale, will take part in the first Summer School on Water organised by the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN). The diverse group will study the global water crisis and its local, regional, and international causes and manifestations. They will examine the situation and challenges from a perspective of Christian faith and ethics and look for possible ecumenical responses. “I’m very excited and privileged to have been selected to be a part of this small international group,” said Mr Gale, who lives in the residential college, St Martin’s, on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus.  St Martin’s is hoping to raise money from the local community to fund Mr Gale’s travel costs.

The standing of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia is the topic of a keynote address at a seminar organised by researchers based in the Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Education in Wagga Wagga. Known as RIVET or Research in Vocational Education and Training, the group will hold its bi-annual research seminar on Friday 16 May. Educator, researcher and author, Professor Stephen Billett, from Griffith University, will address the seminar from 9.30am on the value that Australia places on vocational education. The seminar will be held from 9am to 12.30pm at the Wine and Food Industry Training Centre, McKeowen Drive, on CSU Wagga Wagga Campus.

Bullying in schools is the topic of the first forum for 2008 in the Edversations series hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council. Academics from the University’s School of Education in Wagga Wagga will join guests from schools, support agencies and members of the the wider community to discuss the many issues surrounding the problem of bullying. The forum will examine what is bullying, how is it changing in schools, what can schools do  and what are the roles of teachers, parents and students. The forum will involve comment, conversation and questions. CSU wine and cheese will be available after the forum on Wednesday 14 May from 6pm in the council meeting room, Civic Centre, Baylis St, Wagga Wagga.