As part of the 60th anniversary of teacher education being offered in Bathurst, a time capsule at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will receive a new deposit on Wednesday 11 May. A new book, Tales and Tidings from the Pioneers of Bathurst Teachers College 1951-52, written by Mr Royce Levi, one of the first teacher education graduates, will be added to the time capsule. The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Toni Downes, said, “We’re delighted that Mr Levi will visit Charles Sturt University to share his book which captures more stories of the first graduates, many of whom have gone on to hold distinguished positions in education. The book will be entered into the teacher education time capsule which contains wonderful memorabilia, such as the first graduation ball photograph and the dance program for the first graduation ball held in the Walshaw Hall, Bathurst, in 1952.” The time capsule will be sealed once again at 12 noon Wednesday 11 May, at Heffron House (building N4) at CSU in Bathurst. A date has not been set for the next opening of the capsule.

Turning her classroom into a grocery store is just one example of how Charles Sturt University (CSU) teaching graduate, Ms Alison Wojkowski, strives to make learning fun and meaningful. Ms Wojkowski, who graduated from CSU Ontario’s Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES) in 2008, has been recognised in the Teacher of the Year category of the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She said the primary school teaching program at CSU helped prepare her for the classroom. “The program provided hands-on lessons, applicable ideas and theories, and a significant period of time in each work placement,” Ms Wojkowski said. “I was able to develop a number of effective teaching, classroom management and relationship building strategies.” It is the second year in a row that a CSU graduate has won the prestigious award, with Ms Michelle Jerzyk recognised in 2010. The Head of the Ontario School of Education at CSU Dr Will Letts, said “Alison epitomises what we hope for all BPES graduates, to take their Charles Sturt University education and extend it in creative and meaningful ways.”  Ms Wojkowski is now teaching kindergarten at W H Morden Public School in Oakville. “Every day at least one thing happens with my students to make me smile,” she said. “I will continue to strive to help all of my students see the joy in learning, something I hope they will carry with them for life.”

Education students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will show Border parents ideas and resources for raising young children at an expo to be staged in Lavington on Tuesday 24 May. Aimed at parents of children aged up to three years, final year students have researched and developed demonstrations surrounding hot topics in early childhood, including childcare services in Albury-Wodonga, encouraging literacy, and overcoming separation anxiety for children and parents. CSU students Ms Heather Wilson and Ms Hannah Oberin said they will “provide brochures and information packages on childcare centres around Albury-Wodonga that help parents with tips on what to look for when sourcing quality care for their children”. In exploring fostering early literacy, Ms Angela Fogarty said parents “can carry out practical ideas that can be used in the home to build a love for important aspects of literacy such as reading”. The Parent Information Expo will run from 10am to 12noon on 24 May in the Mirambeena Community Centre, 19 Martha Mews, Lavington.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host 60 students in Years 5 and 6 from three Central West schools - Trangie, Portland and Peak Hill central schools – on Wednesday 18 May as part of the Regional ASPIRE program. Regional ASPIRE encourages students as young as five to consider university education as a post-school option. The federally-funded program aims to ensure equal information access and awareness of university study for all students, especially for those from rural and remote areas that are under-represented in higher education. Director of Academic Support at CSU, Ms Liz Smith, said, "The research is very clear that students' ideas about who attends university, and more importantly who doesn't, are formed at a very young age. It's important for children and their families to understand their options in terms of university, and Regional ASPIRE plays a big part in building that understanding." Ms Sue Rogan, Manager of Pre-entry Programs at CSU  has been responsible for the development of Regional ASPIRE at CSU, which sees student ambassadors working with the school children when they visit the campus. Ms Rogan said, “We have an outstanding group of ambassadors who the school students will enjoy working with, and their day will end with a mini graduation."

The Border community will receive a glimpse of modern Indigenous art when Wiradjuri visual artist Ms Leonie McIntosh presents a free public lecture on her work at Charles Sturt University (CSU) this Friday 13 May. Ms McIntosh is a practicing artist, an active member of the Albury-Wodonga Indigenous community, and is currently lecturing in Indigenous art with first year students in CSU’s Murray School of Education. The free public lecture will start at 10am in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. Ms McIntosh will also lead workshops with CSU education students as part of CSU’s Visiting Artist Program.

Several Charles Sturt University (CSU) Visual and Performing Arts students are hoping they get their break into the world of entertainment with the popular Australian Idol television show holding auditions at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus today Tuesday 3 April. CSU students have joined other hopeful performers, aged between 16 and 30, from across country NSW who have converged on Joyes Hall. It is the first Australian Idol audition to be held in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina region of NSW. Australian Idol judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson is providing his caustic comments and critical acclaim during today’s auditions. Production manager Claire Worlidge says “everybody has been really looking forward to the auditions; there’s a real buzz across the campus”.

Veterinary science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga are lending their support and knowledge to the annual Millions Paws Walk organised by the RSPCA. Members of the official CSU student club, the Veterinary Students Association (VSA) will work with animal lovers and their pets to make sure the fundraising event runs smoothly on Sunday 15 May. The VSA’s Ms Caitlin Mack will be one of 40 students taking part. “I’ll be able to put my veterinary science skills to use to support this worthy charity while walking my pet dog Bella,” she said. Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Professor Nick Sangster, said the School works with RSPCA vets in a number of ways, while volunteer work by students also involves finding pets new homes. The RSPCA Millions Paws Walk aims to raise funds for the animal welfare organisation.

Charles Sturt University (CSU), in association with the Islamic Council of NSW, will present a free screening of documentary In the Footsteps of the Ancestors: Muslims Down Under at CSU in Orange on Friday 13 May. The film captures the ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity of Muslims in Australia, and tells the stories of Muslim pioneers and their descendants, beginning with the pivotal, fundamental role the Afghan camel herders played in the development of outback Australia, to the successful integration Muslims have made into modern Australian society. Documentary producer Ms Nada Roude says the documentary encourages a greater effort in understanding and appreciation of Islam and Muslims where sharing knowledge and stories is one of the most important ways of building a genuine sense of community in Australia. “It strengthens the belief in fairness, equality and respect, the values we aspire to in Australia.”

Accessibility and human rights, instead of rigid funding models, should be the priorities when planning health care services for rural and remote Australia says Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor of Rural and Remote Pharmacy, Patrick Ball. “A model of health care funding for rural and remote Australia should be developed based on fundamental human rights and access to services rather than ‘bricks and mortar’,” Professor Patrick Ball said. The CSU academic studied two communities in central west NSW between 2006 and 2008 as part of his examination of the provision of health services outside metropolitan Australia. “We have the evidence to show that what is needed by rural and remote areas is more flexibility in allowing individual communities to meet their health needs, and more emphasis on access to services, rather than what hospital and which health facilities are located where. Albury can play a crucial role in providing back-up services that cannot be delivered on the doorstep.” Professor Patrick Ball will present a free public lecture on his research from 6pm in Albury on Wednesday 11 May.