Breast cancer survivors are being sought in the Albury-Wodonga area to participate in Charles Sturt University (CSU) research aimed at improving quality of life particularly for women in rural and regional Australia. The study, led by Dr Janelle Wheat from the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, aims to establish the effectiveness of natural medicine products in treating the condition lymphoedema, which occurs when the lymphatic system does not work properly after breast cancer treatment.  The research participants will be assessed every three months at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, where they will answer a questionnaire and undergo a bioimpedance analysis in a 15 minute appointment. CSU PhD student, Ms Marta Siekierska is assisting in the project. “There are few treatment options for lymphoedema so we are looking for a safe, natural alternative that is accessible by all. Herbal medicines might offer women some relief from lymphoedema regardless of where they live. We are looking for volunteers who have completed breast cancer treatment - surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy - within the last 20 years, whether they have developed lymphoedema or not,” said Dr Wheat. For further information, contact Ms Siekierska on (03) 5908 3026, mobile 0420 420 824 or send an email. Read more about the research on CSU News here.

The top teaching students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario have been recognised by the University’s Dean of Education, Professor Toni Downes. In a special ceremony on Tuesday 12 June, Professor Downes presented awards for academic performance and excellence in workplace learning to 21 Bachelor of Primary Education Studies students. Ms Krista Arnold won the award for overall academic excellence, while the Science and Technology Association of Ontario Award was presented to Ms Siobhan Chirico.  “The awards recognise the achievements of students academically and their ability to put that knowledge to use in the classroom,” said Professor Downes. “I wish them well as they embark on their teaching careers.” The ceremony also recognised the achievements of 11 Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies students including Ms Janelle Paul who won the Phoenix Award and Ms Nicole Kennedy who won the Milton Community Resource Centre Award. The Dean’s awards were part of graduation celebrations at CSU in Ontario with more than 230 students receiving their testamurs in ceremonies on Friday 15 June.  

Over 400 final year high school students will be at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Monday 18 June to prepare for their final English examination for the 2012 Higher School Certificate (HSC). The students from public and private schools right across southern NSW, from Moama to Culcairn, will take part in presentations, workshops and seminars on this year’s HSC examination. They will gather for the HSC English Study Day to focus on specific examination texts and topics, tips and hints from HSC markers, and reviewing their revision and study plans for their HSC exams in October. Senior English teachers, HSC English markers, specialists in senior English texts and topics, and CSU lecturers will be presenting to students on the day. Event coordinator and CSU education lecturer Mr Paul Grover said, “This is an outstanding opportunity for regional HSC English students to discover how to best prepare for their major examinations from subject and exam experts”.

Gaining teaching experience in an Australian school has capped off study for Canadian Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Ms Amanda Waugh. Ms Waugh will be one of almost 160 students to graduate with a Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES)  from CSU in Ontario on Friday 15 June. Ms Waugh completed her final practical placement at the Bathurst West Primary School in News South Wales, Australia. “Australia is far more advanced with implementing technology into their classrooms so that has been extremely valuable,” she said. “It's been fascinating to learn about what techniques they have and what we may do differently. I've also felt I've been able to share some of Canada's culture with my Australian students.”  Now back home, Ms Waugh is looking forward to receiving her testamur.  “Charles Sturt University has prepared me for the classroom in so many ways that I feel ready to step into the teaching profession. It is great to be a part of a school that has connections in other parts of the world and offers such amazing opportunities.”

After fleeing war-torn Sarajevo, Ms Nevenka Grandic has learnt a new language, pursued her dream of being a librarian and will soon receive a Master of Applied Science (Library and Information Management) from Charles Sturt University (CSU).  Ms Grandic settled in Canada in 1992 with limited English skills. She took classes, got a job in a library and worked on her language proficiency by reading ‘Baby-sitters Club’ books. For the past six year Ms Grandic has been the librarian at CSU in Ontario. “I truly enjoy working in a university library because in this role I cover almost all aspects of library services from acquisition, cataloguing and processing through to training students and academics,” she said. Ms Grandic said studying through distance education has supported her professional development. “It has taught me many different aspects of librarianship,” she said.”Working full-time, distance education was the best opportunity to obtain the qualification. The level of support was outstanding; the instructors were always prompt, helpful and knowledgeable.”

The achievements of more than 230 students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario, Canada will be recognised in two formal graduation ceremonies on Friday 15 June. Travelling from Australia to attend the ceremonies will be the new CSU President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann, Dean of Education Professor Toni Downes and Associate Dean (International) Dr Pam Gibbons. The morning ceremony at 10am at the Burlington Convention Centre will see 173 graduates of the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies and Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies receive their awards. From 3pm, 58 distance education students from CSU’s Faculties of Science, Education and Business will be presented with their awards.

An exhibition showcasing Australian artists who have used an art technique known as monotype in their work over the past century is on display at the Albury Art Gallery. The MONOuno exhibition is made up of pieces from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Art Collection. CSU Art Curator Thomas A. Middlemost will be at the Gallery from 11am on Tuesday 5 June and said the exhibition covers a wide range of subjects and styles, including landscape prints, figurative works, and even animals. “MONOuno also highlights Charles Sturt University’s links with the community of Albury. The medium appeals to a wide range of artists in all media. Painters in MONOuno who are attracted to the medium include Rupert Bunny, Jacqueline Hick, Sidney Nolan, Charles Blackman, John Coburn, and many more.” The University’s Art Collection is 20 years old and holds over 80 monotypes, one of the largest collections of this type of print in Australia.

Pharmaceutical research at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga is set to benefit from a state-of-the-art microscope system to be unveiled on Tuesday 22 May. Purchase of the microscope has been made possible by a $25 000 gift to CSU’s School of Biomedical Sciences by retired pharmacist Mr Robert Lazzarini and his wife, Diane, from Wagga Wagga. Professor of Rural Pharmacy, Patrick Ball, said it has a fully integrated digital imaging system and replaces a vintage 1962 monocular microscope. “We anticipate this will support a range of research activities within the School for at least another 10 to 15 years,” he said. “This will make existing projects much easier and quicker compared to the previous system, and will provide support  for a range of possible projects in the School that the previous system could not.”  

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is continuing to make tertiary education more available in regional Australia when it opens its latest Regional University Centre in collaboration with Goulburn Ovens TAFE (GOTAFE) in 2013. Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Sue Moloney, will formally announce the expansion today, Thursday 3 May, during the release of the Rural City of Wangaratta's South Wangaratta Urban Renewal Strategy at 10am during a Special Council meeting at the Council Chamber, Wangaratta Government Centre. “This initiative recognises the complementary and combined strengths of Charles Sturt University and GOTAFE, particularly in agriculture. Initially, students undertaking a GOTAFE diploma in dairy management can continue their studies with credits from their GOTAFE course to gain a CSU degree in agricultural business management. We are also looking to offer further opportunities for CSU courses through the Wangaratta centre, including postgraduate agriculture studies as well as nursing,” Ms Moloney said. The CSU Regional University Centre at Wangaratta will be established by CSU in collaboration with GOTAFE with the support of a Commonwealth Structural Adjustment Fund grant of over $7m.