Tobacco use seen through the eyes of young Indigenous people from Canada will be the focus of a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. CSU’s School of Information Studies is hosting the lecture by Dr Cindy Jardine from the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta on Thursday 12 July. Tobacco use is a major health problem in many Canadian Indigenous communities, particularly the high rate of smoking among youth. Dr Jardine’s project, with a school in north-west Canada, involved training older students to conduct research with younger students in a bid to better understand how Indigenous youth view smoking in their communities. Professor Lisa Given from CSU’s School of Information Studies said it makes use of some innovative research techniques. “The photo-voice approach is exciting as it gets a camera into the hands of young people, who can then document and discuss what’s happening in their own communities,” she said.  “Applying this technique to studies in Australian Indigenous communities would be a natural extension.”

Eight Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from rural NSW communities will be presented with Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) of NSW Foundation scholarships at a celebratory presentation at Duntryleague Orange Golf Club on Thursday 12 July. The Head of Campus at CSU in Orange and the Associate Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Heather Robinson, said, “The University thanks the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation for its support of our students and rural communities. The RAS NSW Foundation scholarships recognise students’ passion for rural issues and their determination to make a positive difference in rural and regional communities. We welcome RAS Foundation Chairman, Mr Michael Millner, and RAS Foundation Executive Officer, Ms Jocellin Jansson, to Orange. Mr Millner will present the scholarships to students who are from Schools and disciplines at CSU campuses in Orange and Bathurst.”

As part of its expanded regional training program, the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) will be at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 15 June to offer an intensive one-day screenwriting course. Playwright and AFTRS screenwriting lecturer Dr Carl Caulfield will present the course using clips and scripts from well-known classic and modern era films – from Citizen Kane, to Slumdog Millionaire and The King’s Speech - to guide participants through the processes, techniques and tools used to tell a compelling story. AFTRS OPEN Regional Manager Mr Martin Corben said, “Screenwriting Part One is just the beginning for those wanting to develop their film skills as this course explores not only the ‘story’ but the importance of its structure, how to build scenes, suspense and captivating characters. The AFTRS course is supported by Eastern Riverina Arts and the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU. The course runs from 9am to 5pm in the theatrette, building 21, School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Frugal and hard working, the history of German farmers in the southern Riverina will be explored in a free public lecture by Charles Sturt University (CSU) cultural heritage expert Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann in Deniliquin on Wednesday 15 August. German settlement began in the mid 1860s and in this illustrated talk, Professor Spennemann will examine their contribution to farming and the social fabric of the region. “Driven by the proverbial Protestant work ethic, German farmers were generally well respected at the time,” he said. “A typical household contained heirlooms such as family bibles, items sourced from Germany including wedding porcelain along with books and utensils unavailable in Australia.” A member of  CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS),  Professor Spennemann’s research interests include German colonial heritage in Oceania and the conceptual understanding of contemporary and emergent heritage such as modern architecture, space exploration and robotics. He is also a photographic artist who interprets heritage issues through visual media.

Sixteen medical science students from the Fiji National University (FNU) are spending a week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga. The group of final year students will be accompanied by their lecturer Mr Manasa Mainaqelelevu. With a theme of food and nutrition in Australia, the FNU students will attend a food and nutrition research workshop and visit local food production facilities at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 August. Their visit to Albury-Wodonga on Tuesday 14 August coincided with the 2012 Science Fair at CSU as part of National Science Week. The week-long visit is supported by the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences based in Wagga Wagga and CSU Global.

The role of women in higher education is being celebrated at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst and at universities across the country during Bluestocking Week from Monday 13 to Friday 17 August. Dr Kristina Gottschall, a lecturer at the School of Teacher Education in Bathurst, and the newly-elected President of the Bathurst sub-branch of the National Tertiary Education Union, said two events are planned. “All ‘Bluestockings’ and their supporters are invited to attend a screening of the new Australian film The Sapphires at 6.40pm on Tuesday 14 at the Metro Cinema, Bathurst, and there will be a special lunch at Café Mitchell on the University’s Bathurst Campus from 12.30pm on Wednesday 15 August ,” Dr Gottschall said. “In addition to providing a place for women, their friends and supporters in Charles Sturt University to get together, we want to stress the importance of women’s contribution to academic life, advancing feminism and equality through education and collaboration, and subverting the social constructs that narrow social roles, and women’s creativity, expression and thought. It’s essential to reconnect through such events, particularly given the tightly regulated and compressed nature of academic work life today, especially for women who tend to have higher rates of casual employment.”

High school students in Year 10 in the Riverina will get a taste of the range of courses available at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga in the creative industries. Known as MyDay, the two-day event on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 August has attracted 110 students from schools in Boorowa, Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera and Wagga Wagga. From 10.15am to 2.15pm, the teenagers will participate in a range of workshops covering CSU courses such as fine arts, animation, photography, graphic design, television production, acting and design for theatre and television. They will meet with CSU academics and visit the facilities in the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga, including the HR Gallop Gallery, photography studio, television studio and drama studio. Further information about courses in creative industries is available here. Read more about the University’s MyDay initiative here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will hold a MyDay to provide information to prospective students about nursing, social work, teaching, and business courses on Thursday 16 August. Ms Rebecca Morgan, a CSU prospective student adviser, said, “MyDays are an excellent forum for students to experience aspects of the discipline area they are interested in, and to find out what to expect during the course and how to apply for admission. We presently expect about 70 Year 10 and 11 students from nine schools in seven towns around the region to attend.” Schools attending include Dubbo Christian School, Dubbo College Senior Campus, Gilgandra High School, Gulgong High School, Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, Narromine High School, Mudgee High School, Peak Hill Central School, and Wellington High School.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has partnered with The Project Management Institute (PMI) Sydney Chapter to offer a world-first industry-based qualification for project managers. Participants will gain international recognition as a PMI Project Management Professional as part of the course. Scholarship applications are now invited for the Graduate Diploma of Project Management. Dean of CSU’s Commerce Faculty Professor John Hicks believes education in project management is a rapidly developing field in the tertiary education sector. “CSU is pleased to be participating with industry experts in the development of subjects and courses to meet the educational needs of the profession.” Enrolment applications are new being accepted by CSU and scholarships have been donated by PMI to support the launch of the new qualification.