This year’s National Drama Australia Conference had more drama than usual for Associate Professor Dr John Carroll, who was named the recipient of the 2006 Drama Australia Award for Excellence in Drama Education. The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Associate Professor in Communication Research also launched a new book at the Turning The Tides conference which addressed such issues as online drama, digital performance and drama learning. Professor Carroll says Real Players? coauthored with David Cameron of CSU and Michael Anderson of the University of Sydney is “aimed at drama educators, secondary teachers and the university community, as well as a broader group of people who are interested in what’s happening in new technology and performance. It covers the shift that is going on in how young people are relating to new media, and how they are creatively using alternative channels of information.”

Charles Sturt University's (CSU) graduating photography students will hold an exhibition of their photographic works at Albury's Regional Art Gallery from this Friday 20 October. The 11 students works range across a variety of photographic styles and methods, from black and white images, to colour and digital. Photography lecturer Margaret Waller said the exhibition is the culmination of three years of intensive study for Bachelor of Arts Photography students from the Albury campus of CSU. "It is a celebration of the students accomplishments over the past three years and offers the viewer delight and intrigue." The opening of the annual exhibition will commence at 6.30pm with guest speaker Dr Kyla McFarlane from the Monash University Mueseum of Art to give the address.

“I feel very confident in promoting the University as a great place to work.” Karen Kime is Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) new Indigenous Employment Coordinator. Although she only started in the position in June, already she has held cross cultural training workshops and Indigenous staff forums. “The workshops were about the different communication styles that many of our people have. Things such as eye contact, and women and men’s 'business', are sensitive issues. Silences are often used to show respect. Body language is very different. The forums meanwhile are a fantastic way for our people to be able to get together, to network, learn University processes, and to get some training which is specifically targeted for their needs.” Next up will be the introduction of pathways between TAFE, schools and CSU and the development of a mentoring scheme “to encourage people to see CSU as a potential and relevant employer - where one could have a career. In addition, our people contribute to an interesting and dynamic workforce; one that reflects the cultural makeup of the region it serves.”

The world’s leading cattle producing nations visited Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Veterinary Science Facilities as part of the 5 Nations Beef Conference being held this week. International delegates from the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Argentina viewed CSU’s Veterinary Science facilities as part of their focus on the future of the cattle industry. The visit has further strengthened links between CSU and the Cattle Council of Australia. Director of Veterinary Science, Professor Kym Abbott said the Veterinary Pre-Clinical Centre gave the 30 delegates an insight into future global animal health management. “Cattle health is high on our agenda at CSU, because it is central to veterinary biosecurity and herd management as well as research into current and potential threats to Australia’s livestock industries.” Professor Abbott said it was an honour for CSU to be able to showcase “to leading cattle specialists from around the world what we are doing in Veterinary Science”. The Cattle Council of Australia will return to the University for the official opening of the new “state of the art” cattle yards and CSU Veterinary Science Foundation Dinner on Saturday 28 October. Cattle Council Executive Director, David Inall will be guest speaker at the Dinner.

According to a report published in March of this year, the well-documented nursing workforce shortage is an international problem. Nurse resignation rates in the USA are around 12-15 per cent per annum, while the annual attrition rates in New South Wales are closer to 20 per cent. Susan Bragg, a PhD student with the School of Health Science, is hoping to explore the reasons why NSW rural registered nurses resign from hospitals by interviewing nurses who resigned from a NSW rural hospital for reasons other than maternity, retirement or geographic relocation. “The idea came to me after I left the hospital system, and then we kept hearing about the nurse shortage. I wondered why no one was listening to the nurses who had resigned. I strongly believe that the nurses who have left the system hold the reason why. I think there are quite a few issues impacting on why nurses leave and hopefully I can summarise those in my thesis and then the system may pay attention.”

Associate Professor Erica Smith from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Faculty of Education says “apprenticeships are such a hot issue at the moment”. This is why the topic has been chosen for the latest Research in Vocational Education and Training (RIVET) colloquium to be held at CSU this Friday (20 October). Professor Smith says the twice yearly events, which are funded by CSU’s Faculty of Education and managed by the RIVET CSU Community of Scholars, “have quite a reputation among the local community as a place to come and keep up to date with the latest research. The first speaker is looking at how to improve teaching practice in apprenticeships, and then we have a local speaker who is going to talk about the impact of recent national changes at a local level. The second part of the day is about innovations to increase participation in apprenticeships. School-based apprenticeships are new to NSW, and schools will learn how they can integrate these into their curriculum. The final paper is about pre-apprenticeships which is an initiative to start people in apprentice training off the job.” 

Last year, for the first time, India passed China in economic growth, when India’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by more than 8 per cent. The second quarter of 2006 saw a massive 8.9 per cent growth in the Indian economy. No wonder then that Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a high profile seminar discussing trade between India and Australia tomorrow (18 October). Speakers such as Professor Kevin Parton, Head of School of Rural Management at CSU Orange will highlight future prospects for trade in areas ranging from agribusiness to minerals and service industries. “India certainly is becoming a much more important trade partner for Australia, with products such as coal, and in future probably uranium for important energy sources for the growing Indian economy.  It is fairly obvious that India can provide us with IT and financial services”. India is also the guest nation at this year’s Australian National Field Days (ANFD) to be held in Orange from 17 October.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) has signed an articulation agreement with Workers Educational Association (WEA) Hunter. CSU’s Dean of the Faculty of Health, Professor Mark Burton, says “this is a significant industry partner. WEA Hunter run a variety of programs in vocational education including Advanced Diplomas in naturopathy, western herbal medicine and massage therapy.” Professor Burton explains that graduates from WEA Hunter can then join CSU and “upgrade to degree status by adding in a variety of CSU science based programs”. Ben Grushka, Executive Director of WEA Hunter, describes the agreement as “very important. It allows our graduates to project themselves into further education. We believe that once the word gets out, it will become very popular.”

It’s a long way from Milano, Italy to Borenore just outside Orange. Equine Business Management lecturer, Amanda Warren-Smith, has just returned from the second International Equitation Science Symposium which was held in Milano and explored the latest research in horse behaviour, training and welfare.  Amanda’s paper at the symposium, An audit of the application of the principles of equitation science by qualified accredited equestrian instructors in Australia looked at whether accredited equestrian instructors in Australia have an understanding of the principles of learning theory. The symposium was attended by almost 200 delegates from all over the world. From there it was straight to the Australian National Field Days (ANFD), where Ms Warren-Smith is assisting in the coordination of the ANFD Equine Expo.  The Expo gives Equine Business Management students a chance to use their event management skills as well as equestrian skills such as dressage and jumping acquired through their studies.