Charles Sturt University (CSU) is offering agribusinesses in the Central West an opportunity to do business better and smarter when it comes to Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan and Korea.CSU's Centre for Customs and Excise Studies is holding an education and training workshop in Bathurst on Monday 31 October, 2016.CSU Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator, Vocational Programs, Mr Brent Juratowitch said the Bathurst seminar follows successful workshops across regional Australia including in Wagga Wagga."The program concentrates on market opportunities, provides technical training on the regulatory requirements to enter each market and advises companies on how to best to manage their supply chains; so that maximum value is retained by producers," Mr Juratowitch said."We examine a range of topics including market selection, market trends, product classification, tariffs and duties, valuation, regulatory impediments, supply chain management and how to participate in Authorised Economic Operator schemes. This kind of information is vital for businesses wanting to operate in this environment."The workshop is part of a six week program that also includes online business forums, mentoring and tailored advice. Once enrolled a participant can access an online platform containing FTA fact sheets, business guides and other materials. This enables them to review this material in their own time and can contact presenters with specific questions relating to their business.The one-day program is subsidised by the Australian Government and supported by the Export Council of Australia. The full cost to participants is $100 which includes all the materials, workshop, business advice and mentoring. Enrol online in the FTA program at http://customscentre.com/north-asia-fta-agribusiness-workshops/

There will be chess moves aplenty when primary and secondary school students participate in the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Schools Chess Challenge on Wednesday 2 November 2016.CSU Division of Information Technology Business Analyst, Ms Marian Wolmarans said last year's event was very successful."Last year we had around 100 students on campus for the Chess Challenge with bishops, kings and queens outmanoeuvring each other and we are expecting similar numbers again this year," Mrs Wolmarans said."The event is sponsored by Charles Sturt University's Albury-Wodonga Head of Campus and we are proud to promote such a creative day for young minds."The entry fees for participants are being covered thanks to a CSU Community-University Partnerships grant for education development.Schools can register for the event at https://au.tornelo.com/tournaments/charles-sturt-university--1Mrs Wolmarans said, "Chess Kids Australia will also be sending a representative for the day to facilitate the seven-round tournament. There are two categories, primary and secondary – and Charles Sturt University offers a trophy to the winning team, to take back to their school for display for the year."The event can even be followed online here on the day as the rounds progress.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from the Port Macquarie will be participating in the nationwide Garage Sale Trail this Saturday 22 October 2016 to raise funds for the Jacob Berry Memorial Scholarship.The group is raising funds in memory of their friend, 23-year-old CSU student Jacob Berry who tragically passed away in a bicycle accident whilst overseas this year.Jacob had just graduated from the Bachelor of Clinical Science (Paramedic) and a $5 000 scholarship has now been established to honour his life. The scholarship will be available from 2017 to paramedicine students studying at CSU in Port Macquarie.This weekend, CSU students will be helping to raise funds for the scholarship. They will be selling second hand goods as well as plenty of steak sandwiches. Local butchers, Meltique Beef have donated all the steaks and the local council as well as a two local churches are also involved.Friends of Jacob's from CSU Jack Dowd and Ashley Hendry are among those who'll be helping this weekend.Jacob's friends and family described him in a statement as, "A graduate, a much loved son, a brother and a great friend to so many who had the fortune to meet him. He loved surfing and being in the water and was a qualified dive master. He was also an aspiring musician and enjoyed the adventures that traveling gave him. His passing has left a void in the lives of all that knew him."Berry Financial Services, Rydges and CSU have created the Jacob Berry Memorial Scholarship to enable Port Macquarie paramedicine students to realise their dreams.The Port Macquarie contribution to the national Garage Sale Trail is taking place at CSU, 7 Major Innes Road from 9am – 1pm and a barbeque will be available as well as many pre-loved items.

The story of two women living on "a knife's edge" in the Villawood Detention Centre has won an inaugural international broadcasting award for former Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Kirsti Melville. The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) Amnesty International Award for Human Rights Programme was presented to Ms Melville by Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International at a ceremony in New Delhi. The Radio National documentary is described as "the human story behind the federal government's stance on deporting long-term visa overstayers". Ms Melville, a 1994 graduate with a BA Communication (Broadcast Journalism), says it was a compelling program "because their stories were equally moving and powerful as those of refugees, but they are voices you don't hear very often. I think it was one of the first times I felt like I had had a little bit of an impact. You become very aware of your responsibilities as a journalist and to the people involved." The news that she won came as a surprise, "I was completely gob smacked, and on top of that to find out I was going to India in two weeks to accept the Award was mind-blowing." Kirsti's next documentary is about ageing Holocaust survivors in nursing homes in Sydney.

“Accept our differences, celebrate our similarities” is the theme for Harmony Day to be celebrated next Tuesday 21 March on Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) students and staff will celebrate the national event, which coincides with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. “It’s an opportunity for all Australians to get to know each other better, share our culture and say ‘no’ to racism,” said CSU Student Community Coordinator Monique Cummins. Special activities will be accompanied by free ribbons, stickers and postcards that celebrate the cultural diversity of students and staff at CSU.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will launch the latest review of its sustainability achievements this week. The University’s annual Environmental Scorecard will be launched by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Ken Dillon from 10am to 11am on Thursday 26 September at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Coordinated by CSU Green, the Environmental Scorecard has been released annually since 2007. It tracks CSU’s resource use and green gas emissions in relation to its sustainability targets. The document also outlines other sustainability initiatives. Professor Dillon said, “Sustainability is a key part of the University’s Strategic Plan for 2013-2015. The 2012 Environmental Scorecard shows us how we are travelling in terms of meeting our set targets. Sustainability is everybody’s business.” CSU Green Manager Mr Edward Maher said, “Some stand-out examples of great things being implemented by our staff and students that are featured in the report include postgraduate student David Gale’s ambitions to help small farmers in Vietnam to reduce their reliance on synthetic fertilisers, and lecturer Chris Orchard’s focus on educating his graphic design students about the environmental implications of the practices and processes used in the design industry.” Read more about CSU Green on CSU News here and here.

Veteran Australian TV news and current affairs director Mr Peter Meakin will share decades of professional insight when he speaks to journalism students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 8 October. Ms Kay Nankervis, lecturer in journalism at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, said, “We are very fortunate to have such an experienced news executive as Mr Meakin willing to visit the University to speak to our journalism students. During an ‘In Conversation’ session I will host between 1pm to 2pm on Tuesday, he will speak about his career in the media and contemporary media issues, and will answer students’ questions. Later, he will meet journalism students to hear and provide feedback on their story ‘pitches’ and view the TV news stories they are editing as part of their courses.” Mr Meakin was a TV news and current affairs executive at Channel Nine for three decades, and at Chanel Seven since 2003. He has recently accepted the role of executive director of news and current affairs at Chanel Ten, starting in February 2014.

Heather Bell has been appointed the Acting Head of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dubbo Campus. Mrs Bell has just returned from a six month placement at CSU Ontario where she worked as Campus Operations Manager, which was her role for the past five years at the Dubbo Campus. In announcing the appointment, Vice-Chancellor Ian Goulter congratulated Mrs Bell, saying “she will play an active role in strengthening the University’s links with the region and the delivery of service to the community.”  Mrs Bell says these are exciting times for the Dubbo Campus. “The Admin Focus conference saw over 100 CSU staff travel to Dubbo to see first hand the development that has taken place and that the construction is completed at Dubbo, we can cement our place in the CSU community as well as the Dubbo regional community.” She says she was delighted by the appointment. “Absolutely, I think I will now be well placed to encourage prospective students to visit the Campus and consider higher education, particularly those who may have left school a few years ago or those looking for state-of-the-art student accommodation.” Mrs Bell take over the role as Head of Campus from Professor David Battrersby who was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Ballarat University.

A Federal Government inquiry into school students’ knowledge of Australia’s history has led to a new Charles Sturt University (CSU) history course for teachers being launched for 2007. Course coordinator and history and politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford said there is a real gap in the knowledge students and teachers have about Australia’s democratic process and its history. “This course aims to address many teachers’ poor understanding of Australian history and help teachers to address the need to teach about Australia’s democratic processes and citizenship in their classes. The Graduate Certificate in History (Civics and Citizenship) relates to relevant sections in other teaching subjects for social science, geography and modern history giving graduates a big picture understanding, particularly in relation to the organisation and operation of the Australian democratic system,” Dr Whitford said. Enrolments for the postgraduate course, to start in 2007, will run until November 2006. The Federal Government will hold a summit on teaching Australian history in August this year.