Senior high school students in Orange will get the chance to discover more about university life and potential career paths when the University Road Show comes to town on March 11 and 12. A joint venture by Charles Sturt University (CSU), Southern Cross University and the University of New England, the road show will visit schools throughout the region and feature presentations on a range of topics including admission, university life and study options. Orange High School will host one of three events in town this week, and career advisor Mrs Jenny Teitzel said the road show is an opportunity for her students, and students from surrounding schools, to get a better idea of their options after school. “Regional universities are a common option for school graduates from Orange and the surrounding area who are going on to further education, but it can be difficult for regional students to travel the distances required to attend Open Days at all the universities they may be considering,” she said. “The Road show is a great opportunity for students to hear from a number of universities in one session. Having them come to town so the students can hear from them directly makes a real difference. We’ve found in the past students learn a lot from the sessions and enjoy the chance to ask questions of the three universities." Now in its eleventh year, the University Road Show will visit more schools than ever before, sharing information with around 5,000 students at 120 schools across NSW. CSU Prospective Student Adviser Ms Rebecca Morgan said the road show allows the universities involved to provide students with accurate and timely information to senior high school students considering further education. “By pooling resources, Charles Sturt University, Southern Cross and the University of New England are able to provide excellent advice to students in one visit, maximising the study options presented to students while minimising the amount of time students need to be away from the classroom,” Ms Morgan said. The University Road Show will be in Orange on March 11, visiting James Sheahan High School with students from Orange Christian School attending. On March 12 the Road Show will visit Orange High School with students attending from schools in Blayney, Yeoval and The Canobolas Rural Technology High School, and a third session at Kinross Wolaroi School.

First year Bachelor of Physiotherapy student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange, Mr Scott Simpson, will be presented with one of two inaugural Catherine Bonnes AM Scholarships next week. The $1 000 scholarship has been awarded to Mr Simpson by the Broken Hill and District Hearing Resource Centre Inc., a not for profit organisation assisting people who are deaf or hearing impaired and their families or carers. CEO Ms Anne Woods said Mr Simpson, who is hearing impaired, had impressed the scholarship committee with his commitment to the deaf and hearing-impaired community and his drive to succeed in his chosen career. “The scholarship is designed to assist deaf or hearing impaired people with the cost of tertiary study,” she said. “It is funded through community donation, with administration costs provided through the Centre, and we hope to expand it in the future.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) psychologist and member of Australian Skeptics is challenging local water diviners to demonstrate their powers at the Mitta Muster at Mitta Mitta on Sunday 10 March. The first diviner to successfully demonstrate their paranormal ability of ‘divining’ water under controlled conditions will be eligible to win $110 000 from the national group Australian Skeptics. Dr Krissy Wilson, with CSU's School of Psychology said the prize is a standing offer that has been available for a number of years to anyone able to demonstrate a paranormal ability, including divining for water, gold and other materials, as well as psychic and clairvoyant powers and the like. The Mitta Muster Challenge will be only for water divining. “Contestants who score beyond ‘chance’ in the initial test will be eligible for a further challenge at a time, place and under testing conditions agreed between Australian Skeptics and the contestant. Successful candidates at this second challenge will be eligible to claim the prize,” Dr Wilson said. Dr Wilson will be at the Mitta Muster from 10am to oversee the initial tests for all who would like to demonstrate their water divining powers. To register for the Mitta Muster Challenge, click here.

Changing educational views from teaching to ‘co-learning’ is the focus of the second Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Annual Conference, being held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario on Saturday 2 March. Titled ‘Co-constructing Contexts for Meaningful Engagement’, the conference will look at new ways to support the changing view of children, from the traditional view of teachers-learners in a classroom to that of teachers and pupils as co-learners using play, dance, technology, different cultures, and the outside environment. The keynote address will be presented by renowned early childhood education leader and role model, Professor Lilian Katz, who has lectured across Canada and USA and in 55 other countries. A holder of many academic honours, Professor Katz will share her knowledge of early childhood practices that she has observed in cultures around the world. “Lilian Katz both informs and challenges our conventional wisdom on early childhood education. Few others have contributed so much to the early years’ landscape. We are so excited to host her at our conference,” said conference organiser and program coordinator of CSU’s early childhood studies degree at CSU in Ontario, Ms Karyn Callaghan.

Physiotherapists from Orange, Bathurst and Canowindra will share their experience with students at Charles Sturt University in Orange on Friday in a workshop designed to foster industry connections.   Physiotherapy lecturer Ms Kerstin McPherson from the School of Community Health said the collaboration of local professionals was an important part of the University's approach to preparing students to join the industry.   “It is fantastic that we have local clinicians sharing their knowledge and being involved in teaching,” she said.   The workshop will be run by problem-based learning tutor Dr Sarah Hyde and is designed to encourage the clinicians to share their professional knowledge with the students.   “Dr Hyde’s PhD focused on the problem-based learning approach the CSU physiotherapy program has adopted,” Ms McPherson said.    “Problem-based learning fosters communication skills, group dynamics and clinical reasoning. It builds confidence in students as they gain clinical skills and enhances their ability to contribute on clinical placements.”

A new agreement has been signed by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and St Columba Anglican School in Port Macquarie over the use of laboratory facilities for the next three years. Paramedic and medical imaging students will have access to science laboratories and a preparation room in St Columba's Barrett Science Block. CSU Campus Director, Dr Muyesser Durur said it was an ideal way to foster interest in science across the region. “We look forward to working with St Columba as we get more people from the Mid North Coast into higher education.” The Head of the School for Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Lyn Angel, said she was excited by the prospect of having access to the impressive laboratory facilities at St Columba. “This is an excellent example of how CSU can engage with our regional communities to seek mutually beneficial partnerships to support outstanding learning experiences for our students. We sincerely appreciate the enthusiasm of the staff at St Columba who have worked with us, to provide our students with this opportunity,” Professor Angel said.” St Columba Anglican School Principal, Terry Muldoon said SCAS welcomed the opportunity to work with CSU. “We recognise that we share with CSU a passion and vision for the continued development of excellent educational opportunities in regional Australia,” he said.

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.”