Charles Sturt University (CSU) biomedical sciences lecturer, Dr Deborah Burton, will encourage high school students to look at their options at the 2008 Central West Job Expo on Thursday 31 July. “With increasing living costs, petrol prices and city rent, local high school students seem keener than ever to investigate studying and working within the region,” Dr Burton said. Information on CSU courses in agriculture, nursing, pharmacy, clinical science and the new dentistry and oral health courses will be available. Dr Burton will join academics from across CSU to answer questions and discuss study and career options with students and their families. “It’s an important time in students’ lives and the Expo is a fantastic opportunity to gather information on all the options. Schools have indicated that there will be over 1 300 students attending the Expo,” she said.

Two Bachelor of Arts (Photography) students had works selected in 2008 to hang in the National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. The students, Ms Kate Lewis, who is now studying a Masters of Arts Practice at CSU, and Mr Matt Regan joined staff from the CSU School of Visual and Performing Arts at the exhibition’s opening in Canberra on Thursday 19 March. “While awards are always celebrated and welcomed, for our students’ work to be selected alongside photographers with much longer professional careers is a significant achievement both for Kate and Matt as well as our photography staff,” said Head of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Associate Professor Margaret Woodward. Read more about the students’ portraits here. 

Ensuring a bright future for Australia’s agricultural industry through improved education of its future leaders will bring academics and industry representatives together at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga on Thursday 26 March. Hosted by the CSU School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, the industry advisory day will focus on the improvements made of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree, including the introduction of work placement in the course’s final year. “Various agricultural industry organisations will attend to help forge new relationships between the employers and educators of agriculturalists and to work on plans for the future to improve agricultural education in Australia,” said CSU lecturer Dr Alison Southwell. “By working together to produce the next generation of agriculturalists, we can make our graduates more ‘work ready’ and more capable of handling the challenges that agriculture faces in the future.”

As part of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) 20th anniversary celebrations in 2009, a new art exhibition will be opened this week to highlight more than a century of Australian monotypes. The exhibition, MONO uno: Australian Monotypes in the Charles Sturt University Art Collection, will be opened at 6pm, Friday 27 March by Mr Damian Kelly, General Manager of the Print Council of Australia. “The CSU Art Collection holds more than 80 monotypes. Some of these are historically important, such as the work by A H Fullwood, ‘Valley View’, or R C W Bunny, ‘Reclining Nude’; the latter will tour in November through the Art Gallery of NSW to three capital cities,” said curator Mr Thomas Middlemost. The exhibition is one of many events to mark 20 years of CSU during 2009. See more 20th anniversary events here.

Director of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney and the former Director of the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Dr Dawn Casey, PSM, FAHA has been appointed to the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Council. Dr Casey is the newest member of the University’s governing body following her appointment by the NSW Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Verity Firth, MP, on recommendation from the CSU Council. Dr Casey, who is nationally and internationally recognised for her leadership of the Powerhouse Museum, the National Museum and the Western Australian Museum, has been appointed until June 2011. Dr Casey has made a major contribution to Indigenous policies and programs in Australia as well as to Australia’s cultural heritage, including. the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. She also initiated the joint Commonwealth-State response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody as a senior executive in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Casey’s appointment comes as the University celebrates the 20th anniversary of its establishment through the Charles Sturt University Act 1989. Read more here.

Education students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Ontario recently held the first annual CSU Coffee House and Variety Show, an opportunity to enjoy the company and talents of their peers while generating funds for a good cause. The United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton will be presented with a cheque for over $1 000 by Bachelor of Primary Education Studies students on Thursday 26 March at 12noon to support its invaluable contribution to the strength of the community and its citizens. Through the certification of primary and junior teachers, CSU shares a similar vision to that of the United Way – creating a strong, healthy and safe community for all. The Australian university has been operating in Ontario for the past five years and looks forward to welcoming its fifth intake of students this August.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will recognise academic excellence among its graduating students and the wider community at Graduation in Dubbo on Wednesday 25 March. Included in the 102 graduates will be Dr Patricia Logan, Dubbo-based lecturer with the CSU School of Biomedical Science, who will be awarded her PhD. “I think finding the balance of time between work, study and family is always difficult, so graduation day is a day of pride for the students who have successfully completed their degree,” said Dr Logan, who will give the vote of thanks on behalf of all Dubbo graduates. As part of the University’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, the Dubbo student residences will be named in honour of people who were instrumental in the development of the Dubbo Campus. The naming ceremony will take place at a graduate luncheon to be held on the Dubbo Campus.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will recognise academic excellence among its graduating students and the wider community at Graduation in Orange on Friday 27 March. Included in the 154 graduates will be Mr Yann Guisard, Orange-based associate  lecturer at the CSU School of Agriculture and Wine Science, who will be awarded his PhD. “My studies have been challenging at times and I’ve really valued the support I received from lecturers while I completed my doctorate,” Mr Guisard said. The occasional address will be given by Professor Peter Carroll, who, for the past 35 years, has worked in academic, community and hospital pharmacy as well as in medical and marketing positions within the pharmaceutical industry. The ceremony will be opened by CSU Chancellor, Mr Lawrence Willett, AO.

Members of the Wiradjuri and wider Border community can share their memories of the late Wiradjuri elder, Pastor Cec Grant, at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga on Friday 1 May. The life and work of Pastor Grant, or Wongamar, will be celebrated at the Annual Pastor Cec Grant Lecture, which will be presented by local CSU academic and Wiradjuri elder Yalmambirra. CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ross Chambers, said Pastor Grant made important contributions to Indigenous education at CSU. “The lecture will touch on Christianity and Indigenous culture and spirituality as a tribute to Pastor Grant and his vision,” Professor Chambers said. The evening event will commence with a barbeque at 5pm in front of the Nowik Lecture Theatres, then move into the main theatre for the lecture at 7pm.