The expenses of attending university have been demystified in a new booklet published by Charles Sturt University (CSU), giving students the power of understanding when it comes to their study options. CSU’s Student Equity and diversity officer, Ms Carissa Perkins is excited to launch the publication. “The Making University Affordable booklet was developed by Charles Sturt University to instil a sense of empowerment, arming students with the knowledge they need to plan and succeed at university,” Ms Perkins said. “Making University Affordable addresses the costs to consider when thinking about further study and how to plan for them, and demonstrates how attending university increases future job prospects and earning capacity. The booklet helps, no matter what life stage students are in. Whether they are a school leaver, wanting a change of career, are returning to work or looking at increasing their skills, this booklet aims to inform those who presently feel future study is beyond their means by showing them practical and achievable ways they can make it happen.”

An animal science student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga has been named as a finalist in a national meat judging competition. Seven agricultural, animal and veterinary science students represented CSU at the annual Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) competition in Armidale from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 July. During the grading of beef, lamb and pork carcases and retail cuts, the CSU side competed with teams from other Australian universities as well as top teams from USA and Japan. “This provided an excellent opportunity for Charles Sturt University students to network with students from other universities interested in the production of high quality meat to the domestic and export markets,” said lecturer in animal production with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Dr Belinda King. Two of the seven CSU students made it into the final round. “However, after an excellent oral presentation, Ms Naomi Hobson was one of the 10 students named as finalists and selected for further training with Meat Standards Australia. She now can win a place in the Australian team to complete in the ICMJ competition in USA in January 2012.”

On a well-stocked property, heifer management drives profitability. This will be a key message during the Annual Graham Centre Beef Field Day in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 4 August from Dr Colin Scrivener from the Fred Morley Unit in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Charles Sturt University (CSU). “There are three basic rules producers need to follow when looking at the management of their cow herd: high heifer retention rates, adequate nutrition prior to puberty and management of dystocia,” said Dr Scrivener. “These ‘rules’ can be optimised through management. Other important things to consider include short joining periods, bull health, spring versus autumn calving, weaning systems and age at sale.” Dr Scrivener is one of many industry experts addressing the field day, which is organised by the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – an alliance of CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The theme for this year’s event is reproduction.  Read more about the field day here.

Thousands of native trees and shrubs will be planted at Charles Sturt University (CSU) as staff and students help mark National Tree Day. CSU Green has organised for native trees, shrubs and grasses to be planted at CSU in Bathurst on Friday 29 July, in Wagga Wagga on Saturday 30 July and in Orange on Thursday 18 August. CSU has set a target of using 10 per cent of University land to increase biodiversity by 2011, and 20 per cent by 2015. CSU Green communication and education officer, Ms Nicole Maher said it is a practical way for people to make a difference to the local environment. “It’s really satisfying to walk past the site in the months and years that follow, and watch the plants you put in growing into a beautiful natural area,” she said. “By getting involved in something like this, people get a far greater appreciation for the incredible native flora and fauna that we have right here on our campuses.”

If you are over 65 and you have had a fall in that past 12 months, or are a relative or friend of someone who has, you can take part in research at Charles Sturt University (CSU) that looks at your experiences related to the fall. Ms Kristy Robson, a podiatry academic with the CSU’s School of Community Health  and Centre for Inland Health is looking for participants specifically from Albury, Corowa, Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Coleambally, Boorowa, Young and Moama as part of her PhD research project. Ms Robson, who is based in Albury, said it is estimated that between 30 and 60 per cent of older people living in the community will experience a fall each year. “It is therefore important we try and understand why this is occurring, particularly for people living in inland communities of Australia. Most current research is based on the opinions of health experts. We want to collect stories from diverse inland communities which have widely spread people and health services. Programs developed for metropolitan situations might not be appropriate for our regional communities.” To participate in the CSU research project, contact Ms Wendy Rose Davison on telephone (02) 6051 9232.

Accessibility and human rights instead of rigid funding 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. Professor Ball studied four communities in central west NSW as part of his examination of the provision of health services outside metropolitan Australia. “Governments have put forward centrally controlled, standardised solutions based on defined services and bricks and mortar,” he said. “We have evidence to show that rural and remote areas need 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 West Wyalong on Wednesday 3 August.

Former and current police officers and school teachers are sought to participate in Charles Sturt University (CSU) research about decision-making in their careers. The study by Ms Loene Howes, a psychology student and a teacher for 14 years, will focus on the career decision-making of police officers and teachers who stay in these professions or enter new careers. “In particular, I need former school teachers and police officers who have gone into other fields, as well as current police officers and school teachers, to complete an anonymous online survey,” said Ms Howes. "The survey usually takes 10 to 30 minutes to complete, depending on how many questions are relevant to the experience of the individual completing the survey. I hope my research will be of use to police officers and teachers considering career change, counsellors assisting police officers and teachers with career transitions, and police and education departments in addressing the needs of staff and keeping experienced staff in the professions.” The survey can be found here. 

The campaign to support the Charles Sturt University (CSU) proposal for more medical training in regional Australia will hit the road this Friday 12 August in the 23rd Kidney Kar Rally.  CSU Advancement Officer, Mr Justin Williams is part of the support crew for the annual rally which raises money for children with kidney disease. As the convoy of colourful cars drives through regional NSW, Mr Williams will also be promoting the CSU Doctors 4 the Bush campaign.  CSU has submitted a proposal to the federal government for an Integrated Health and Medical Education Precinct in Orange, and a Medical and Health Services Precinct in Bathurst. It aims to provide medical and health training for students to help address the shortage of doctors in the bush. "When the opportunity arose to join in the rally I thought why not take this worthy cause on the road,” Mr Williams said. ”Evidence shows that if people are educated regionally they tend to stay here and with the regional health shortage, Charles Sturt University’s plan makes sense.”  The public can show its support for the Doctors 4 the Bush campaign by signing a petition when the Kidney Kar Rally rolls into town or by visiting the Doctors 4 the Bush website here.

The moving documentary Kapyong, about one of most significant and least acknowledged battles fought by Australian soldiers, will be screened at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 10 August. Fought during the Korean War in the Kapyong Valley north of Seoul in April 1951, mainly Australian and Canadian soldiers in the United Nations forces faced the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. The fierce battle was for a valley, the ancient and traditional invasion route to the capital, Seoul. If Kapyong fell, Seoul and the war would have been lost. Kapyong was written and directed by Australian filmmaker Dennis K Smith and produced by John Lewis of Arcimedia. The documentary, launched by the Prime Minister in Canberra on 29 April, features many shots produced by visual effects lecturer at CSU, Mr Andrew Hagan as the film’s Visual Effects Supervisor. Hosted by the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga, the special screening of Kaypong will include an exclusive insight into the making of the film by Mr Hagan. “The film required photorealistic visual effects, with the documentary demonstrating a new wave of digital SLR cinematography and production for independent filmmakers,” said Mr Hagan. Kapyong is rated M for Mature audiences.