He began his working life as a junior clerk with the Wagga Agricultural College and ends it as finance chief of Charles Sturt University (CSU), overseeing a budget of $380 million. Mr Jim Hackett will retire as Executive Director of the University’s Division of Finance on Friday 18 February after 44 years with CSU and its predecessor institutions. Reflecting on his lengthy career with the organisation, Mr Hackett said, “The capital development of Charles Sturt University during the last five years has been staggering. Between 2007 and 2010, capital expenditure was $250 million; up 50 per cent from an asset base of $500 million.” Looking to the future, Mr Hackett said, “The capital plan for the next five years of $200 million is fully funded. We are now a major player, a genuine university with national and international recognition.” Mr Hackett says he is looking forward to having more ‘time’ during his retirement in Wagga Wagga. This includes time for travel and his three grandchildren. Mr Paul Dowler has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Division of Finance.

Students get their first real taste of their new life at university during Orientation 2011 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) next week. With the theme ‘Superher-O Week’, Live Work Play, a range of academic and social activities for new students start on Monday 21 February at CSU campuses, including Wagga Wagga. Around 1 100 new students have accepted a place in an undergraduate on campus course at CSU in Wagga Wagga. A large range of courses are offered at CSU in Wagga Wagga including accounting, veterinary science, oral health, pharmacy, teaching, television production, social work and nursing. Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner, will conduct an Official Welcome Ceremony for the new students and their families and friends from 10am to 11.30am on Monday 21 February. Assisting the new students throughout the week will be around 50 Orientation student leaders dressed in blue shirts.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will next week host a delegation from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) as part of a large research project aimed at finding ways to alleviate poverty of farming families in rain-fed areas in the South East Asian nation. The $5.1 million project, ‘Developing improved farming and marketing systems in rain fed regions of southern Lao PDR’, involves researchers from institutions in Laos and Australia and is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and led by Strategic Research Professor at CSU, Professor Len Wade. He will accompany the delegation, headed by the Director General of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) in Lao, Dr Bounthong Bouahom. On Monday 21 February, the delegation will visit research facilities at CSU in Wagga Wagga, including the new $2.4 million underground field research laboratory known as a Rhizolysimeter. The delegation, which will also be accompanied by Research Program Manager at ACIAR, Dr John Dixon, will visit rice farms and fisheries while in the Riverina. Field research is underway in several locations in provinces of southern Laos, and Professor Wade will travel to Lao PDR on Friday 25 February for the annual review of the project as well as visit field sites in the country.

Orientation Week for new students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo start on Tuesday 22 February with the theme ‘Superher-O’. More than 100 students have enrolled in undergraduate courses as varied as teaching, nursing, accountancy, business studies and social work. Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty, said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce the students to study and life at CSU. “Orientation Week gives students the opportunity to become familiar with their campus, the staff and to meet other students. CSU staff will be on hand to assist new students with their inquiries about courses, subjects, accommodation and finding their way around campus,” Dr Moriarty said.

Students get their first real taste of their new life at university during Orientation Week next week. With the theme ‘Supeher-O’, commencement activities for new students start on Monday 21 February at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on all its campuses, including Albury-Wodonga. Nearly 650 students have enrolled in undergraduate courses as varied as physiotherapy, teaching, nursing, speech pathology, adventure ecotourism, accountancy, and information technology. Head of Campus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Professor Allan Curtis, said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce the students to study and life at CSU. “Orientation Week allows students to become familiar with their surroundings, staff and other students. CSU staff are ready to respond to queries about courses and subjects, help students find accommodation, and help them make the most of the cultural and sporting activities available in Albury-Wodonga,” Professor Curtis said.

New research led by Charles Sturt University (CSU) aims to learn more about alcohol and drug use by workers in Australia’s agricultural and fishing industries. Research leader Dr Julaine Allan, from CSU’s Centre for Inland Health and a Senior Research Fellow at the Lyndon Community, an alcohol and other drugs service in western NSW, said, “The research aims to gauge the extent of substance use, assess the safety implications, and understand and help ease the stresses that may lead workers to take alcohol and drugs.   We want to speak to people who work in the agricultural and fishing industries throughout regional Australia, confidentially and without prejudice. We would also like to interview their family members, and community leaders in the relevant regional areas.”

The link between older people’s personal wellbeing and their involvement in social activities and problem-solving will be examined by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher in coming months. Occupational therapy lecturer with the School of Community Health, Ms Thérèse Schmid, will commence her research in February and seeks participants aged 65 to 74 years from Albury and Wodonga. “I will be documenting how participants use problem-solving in social activities, and how this affects their sense of wellbeing,” said Ms Schmid, who is looking for volunteers to take part in the research for two hours a week for 12 weeks. Volunteers may be accompanied by a friend. The research will be based at Aged Concern in Townsend Street, Albury. People wanting to participate in the research should contact Ms Schmid on 6023 3971.

Australia’s population is ageing rapidly and Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Rylee Dionigi, a Fellow with the CSU Centre for Inland Health Research, is interviewing Bathurst residents as part of collaborative research about factors affecting physical activity among older adults in Australia and Canada. Dr Dionigi said, “Ageing is generally discussed with the empahasis on the declining body, and the research will inform future policies on healthy ageing. It asks people about their current leisure activities, what dissuades them from regular physical activity, their definition of ‘healthy ageing’ and expectations of the ageing process. I am particularly interested in the meaning older people attach to their physical activity or lack thereof in relation to current health promotions and stereotypes of older age. I hope this research encourages policy makers to heed the outcomes of small scale interpretive studies which will lead to greater understanding and tolerance of later life in general.”

A passion for teaching has earned Charles Sturt University (CSU) Faculty of Education academic Dr Beverley Moriarty an award for her efforts. The inaugural CSU Faculty of Education Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Award was offered for the first time in 2010 and invited all Faculty of Education staff at CSU to apply. The evaluation panel noted the strong feedback from students in an application that reflected Dr Moriarty’s passion for teaching and dedication to students. “Charles Sturt University values its academic staff and rewards the quality of teaching and learning experiences, as this is the core of what we do.” explained Dr Alan Bain, acting Sub-Dean Learning and Teaching and Associate Professor at the School of Teacher Education. “What came through in Dr Moriarty’s application was her responsiveness and sensitivity to the needs of students. She has a real passion for what she’s doing.” The Award’s application process asks the applicant to support their case with feedback from peers, students and referees.