Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff will visit Year 9 students at Yarrawonga College in northeast Victoria on Thursday 13 December to raise awareness of and interest in university study. The visit, which is part of the CSU’s ‘Future Moves’ program, aims to increase participation in tertiary education in regional Australia, including northeast Victoria. “It will give the students an idea of what careers are on offer. We will be exploring a variety of work and career options that might interest them,” said Ms Ilena Young from the CSU Study Centre in Wangaratta. The ‘Future Moves’ program started in northeast Victoria in 2012 and will develop partnerships with 10 schools across the region, working with school students from Years 9 to 12.  

The lessons taken from the Christchurch earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011 are being shared this week with staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU).  Mr Chris Hawker, Primary Incident Controller from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, was keynote speaker at CSU’s annual emergency planning workshop in Young today Wednesday 5 December and will visit CSU in Bathurst tomorrow Thursday 6 December, having toured CSU in Wagga Wagga earlier this week. Mr Hawker shared with CSU’s critical response staff his team’s response to these devastating earthquakes and the University of Canterbury’s road to recovery. “Chris has a wealth of experience in terms of emergency management processes. Hearing him talk about his own experiences during these earthquakes helps Charles Sturt University staff build on our own emergency management preparation and response frameworks,” said Mr Wayne Millar, Chair of CSU’s Emergency Planning Committee.

Residents of Dubbo and the region are invited to a free community presentation on ‘Understanding Palestine’ at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Wednesday 5 December. The presentation is by Mr Shawan Jabarin, General Director of Al Haq, the Palestinian human rights organisation. Mr Jabarin will speak about contemporary life in Palestine. Mr Jabarin is visiting Dubbo as a guest of retired NSW Supreme Court Judge, The Hon. Hal Wootten AC, QC, who developed a friendship with Mr Jabarin during visits to Palestine to assist in the development of law schools. He said Mr Jabarin hoped to see rural Australia and learn something of Aboriginal life during his visit. The presentation will be held in Room 422 at CSU, Tony McGrane Drive, Dubbo, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Approval of new student accommodation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga has been granted. The development application went before the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel in Wagga Wagga on Monday 3 December. The $15 million development on Valder Way at CSU in Wagga Wagga will see the construction of six two-storey buildings providing 152 rooms with ensuite facilities. In July, Zauner Construction was named the successful tenderer for the design and construction of new student accommodation at CSU in Orange and Wagga Wagga. Read more on CSU News here. Zauner Construction will move onto the site from Monday 17 December. The new accommodation for 152 students is due for completion by the start of the 2014 academic year. The development also involves the construction of a building with a lobby, seminar room, storage area, entertainment room, kitchen and communal and private study areas. CSU currently offers almost 3 000 student accommodation places across its campuses, including 1 200 at CSU in Wagga Wagga.    

The annual graduation ceremonies for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students who have completed their studies will be held over three days at the University in Bathurst next week. Six ceremonies will be held in CSU’s CD Blake Auditorium (gymnasium) for about 1 454 graduates and their families and guests on Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 December. Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, “The annual graduation ceremonies at Charles Sturt University are always an exciting time, and we look forward to welcoming our graduates and their families and friends on this important occasion. We are expecting about 5 500 people to attend the six graduation ceremonies in Bathurst this year.” Musical interludes will be provided by students from the Mitchell Conservatorium of Music in Bathurst. The University Medal will be presented to Ms Larissa Jayne Hanlon from Calala, near Tamworth, during the Faculty of Education afternoon graduation ceremony on Thursday 13 December.

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will graduate at a ceremony on Tuesday 11 December. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty, said, “It’s wonderful that we have more graduates here each year." In 2012, 94 students from teaching, nursing, business and social work courses, along with about 280 guests, will attend the Charles Sturt University graduation in Dubbo. The Occasional Address will be delivered by Western Plains Zoo General Manager, Mr Matthew Fuller.

The celebration of graduation ceremonies will return to central Albury next week as Charles Sturt University (CSU) holds its annual ceremonies for students who have completed their studies in 2012.  Four ceremonies will be held over two days in the Albury Entertainment Centre, Swift Street, starting at 3pm on Thursday 13 December, with a further three ceremonies to be held  at 9.30am, 11am and 3pm on Friday 14 December. Awards for academic excellence to be conferred include two University Medals and  eight students will receive their Doctor of Philosophy and one Doctor of Business Administration. Head of Campus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Professor Julia Coyle, said, “The annual graduation ceremonies at Charles Sturt University are always an exciting time, and we look forward to welcoming our graduates and their families and friends on this important occasion. We are expecting nearly 600 graduates to attend, together with nearly 1 700 guests.”

Students from a range of courses at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will graduate at a ceremony on Tuesday 11 December. The Head of Campus at CSU in Orange, Dr Heather Robinson, said, “I’m delighted that 114 students from agricultural business management, pharmacy, clinical sciences and other courses, along with about 350 guests, will attend the Charles Sturt University graduation in Orange this year. Many of these graduates will take up employment in regional NSW and make a significant contribution to their communities.” The Occasional Address will be delivered by the federal Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Services and Indigenous Health, The Hon. Dr Andrew Laming, MP.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host 63 Year Nine students from Peak Hill Central School, Trundle Central School, Trangie Central School and Denison College, Bathurst, for a Future Directions Day from 10.30am on Tuesday 4 December. CSU Future Moves Coordinator, Ms Tonya Graham said, “By introducing young people to a university campus and enabling them to interact with university students and staff, we hope to encourage Year Nine students to consider tertiary education as a realistic and accessible option. We want to trigger conversations about post-school options early so that students see university as a realistic pathway and feel confident with their career choices.” The day is part of CSU’s Future Moves Program to build aspiration for higher education among school students in regional NSW and Victoria, and the Future Directions Day will be the first of its kind to target Year Nine students. Throughout the day students will participate in interactive workshops facilitated by CSU staff from a range of specialisations, including robotics, nursing, communications and human movement studies. Students will also tour the campus and have lunch in the dining hall. For more information, see the Future Moves website here.