Recognising the importance of healthy students and staff, and wellness for a healthy workplace, Charles Sturt University (CSU), is holding a series of expos to highlight healthy activities and services that are available around Albury-Wodonga. CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said, "Our aim is to have student and staff health and well-being understood, valued and actively supported at all levels of our organisation." CSU's 2014 SGE Credit Union Wellness and Wellbeing Conference and Expos will include many workshops. These include  mental health issues, physical activity, financial stability and security, stress management and prevention, caring for the elderly, alcohol and drug awareness, time management and lifestyle balance, nutrition, and men's and women's health for all CSU staff and students. The CSU Wellness and Wellbeing Expo for the Albury-Wodonga campus will start at 9.30am on Monday 17 March in the Gums Café, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Dairy farmers and education providers have joined forces in North East Victoria to encourage local secondary students to consider a career in dairying and agriculture. As part of the Alpine Valleys Dairy Pathways Project, local farmers, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and GOTAFE have met with school principals investigate how they can facilitate more agricultural education to be incorporated into school curricula. Alpine Valley dairy farmer and project committee member Mr Scott McKillop believes the North-East has many profitable and resilient farm businesses in the region. "Farming has been the backbone of the area for many years and should continue to be into the future because of the quality of the land and water resources we have available," Mr McKillop said. Staff from CSU, GOTAFE and the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia in Wangaratta want to see more dairy farms and milk production in the Alpine Valleys and believe the solution lies in local schools. Course director with CSU's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Dr Yann Guisard, wants teachers, parents and students in primary and high schools to grow in their understanding of agricultural careers and their importance to the local economy.

High school students interested to become nurses and paramedics will explore relevant courses at a MyDay event at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 18 March. Ms Fran Dwyer, CSU prospective student adviser, said, "MyDay events give senior high school students practical information and the chance to experience a discipline they might be interested to later study and pursue a career in. We expect about 50 students from 13 high schools in the central west and regional NSW to attend this courses information day for the CSU School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, and the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences in Bathurst. Students will be involved in hands-on activities conducted in state-of-the-art facilities at the University." The schools participating include: Blayney High School, Condobolin High School, Cowra High, Mackellar Girls Campus, Mater Dei Catholic College (Wagga Wagga), Mudgee High School, Orange High School,  James Sheahan Catholic High School (Orange), Springwood High School, St John's College (Dubbo), Tullamore Central School, Winmalee High School, and St Francis Xavier's College (Hamilton, Newcastle).

The work of women at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury Wodonga will be celebrated at a luncheon on Wednesday 11 March. The event is being held in recognition of International Women's Day and will feature a presentation by Director of the Hume Medicare Local, Dr Helen Haines.  Organiser, Associate Professor Rosemary Black said the women of CSU Albury Wodonga are coming together to celebrate achievements and acknowledge women all around the world. "The theme of the 2015 International Women's Day isMake It Happen encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women," she said. "This is a chance to do that while hearing from Dr Haines who has a career in rural health spanning three decades with experience in clinical practice, management and research." The event is supported by CSU's Leadership Development for Women Steering Committee, a forum which identifies and supports development opportunities for women leaders at the University.

A passion for improving learning through the use of technology is what motivates Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic, Associate Professor of Education Barney Dalgarno, who's been recognised with a national award. Professor Dalgarno is Associate Dean of Curriculum, Learning and Teaching with CSU's Faculty of Education in Wagga Wagga, and has been made a Fellow of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ascilite). The prestigious award recognises his contribution over the past 17 years in research, practice and leadership in technology and learning in higher education, and puts him in the company of some of the world leaders in technology and learning. "There's often a tendency for people to jump on the band-wagon when it comes to new technology," said Professor Dalgarno. "But it's important think about the way people learn and to consider if this new technology will allow them to do that in a different way." Professor Dalgarno was awarded Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) in 2007 and 2011. Read more on CSU News here.

What is numeracy, how is it different to mathematics, and how is numeracy related to community and education? These questions will be addressed by one of Australia's leading experts in numeracy education, Professor Bob Perry, from CSU's School of Education, in a presentation on Monday 10 March. Professor Perry will explore the latest research on numeracy in teaching, including his own work on the Border. Professor Perry has worked in teacher education in Australia and overseas for over 40 years. His research interests include powerful mathematical ideas in pre-school education and the first year of school, researching with children, and building community capacity. With his partner, Professor Sue Dockett, both lead international research projects on transition to school, including in Border-based indigenous communities. The 'Knowledge Now' lecture will be start at 1pm on Monday 10 March in room 202, building 751, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

As Australian urban areas rapidly become overcrowded, marketing campaigns use images of relaxed lifestyles and bucolic pastures to sell dreams of country bliss to fatigued urbanites. But is rural living as idyllic as it seems? A group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) experts, led by Dr Angela Ragusa from CSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, have investigated the 'rural realities' of country life in Australia in a book titled Rural Lifestyles, Community Well-being and Social Change: Lessons from Country Australia for Global Citizens. "Rural Lifestyles presents readers with evidence of the key issues facing rural communities and individuals, and insights into rural amenities, geography, identity, culture, health and governance which impact wellbeing and lifestyle satisfaction," Dr Ragusa said. The book investigates the realities and opportunities offered in regional Australia, particularly regarding ageing, disability, service delivery and social isolation. See more here. CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann will officially launch the book titled Rural Lifestyles at 10.30am on Friday 7 March, at the Common Crust in the Learning Commons, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

The Division of Facilities Management (DFM) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has completed four revitilisation projects on the campus in Bathurst in preparation for the start of the 2014 academic year. Mr Peter Scott, DFM campus service manager in Bathurst, said, "The projects help to build a better campus environment for staff, students and visitors. Major renovations totalling about $5 million were carried out on The Towers and John Oxley Village student residences where more than 500 rooms were refurbished. New and returning students were greeted by colourful exteriors which add vibrancy, and extensive interior improvements, including new carpets throughout, new room wardrobes and bathrooms. A new roundabout and road works improved the main entrance into the University and highlight the new multi-million dollar Community Engagement and Wellness Centre and health precinct. Signage across campus has been updated, and exterior building numbers are now displayed as numeral-only signs. The re-numbering brings Bathurst campus in line with the wider University's building numbers, to create a unified approach." Other projects in 2014 include branding changes to food and beverage outlets, enhancements to outdoor learning and social spaces, and major renovations to the student media centre.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host a MyDay on Friday 28 February for high school students interested in studying exercise and sport sciences courses. CSU prospective student adviser Ms Fran Dwyer said, "We expect about 55 students from 14 high schools to attend this courses information day for the CSU School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst. This is a wonderful opportunity for senior high school students get practical information and experience a discipline they might be interested to study and pursue a career in. Students will be involved in hands-on activities conducted in state of the art facilities at the University, while learning about career opportunities." The participating schools include: Bathurst High School, Cowra High, Hennessy Catholic College (Young), Leeton High School, Lithgow High School, Mudgee High School, Narromine High School, Oberon High School, Orange High School, Parkes High School, Picton High School, St John's College (Dubbo), St Stanislaus College (Bathurst), and Henry Lawson High School (Grenfell).