Orientation Week is the traditional start of the university year for new students at Charles Sturt University (CSU), and runs until Friday 26 February. Around 600 students, including part-time students, will enrol in courses as varied as physiotherapy, teaching, nursing, speech therapy, adventure ecotourism, accountancy, and information technology. Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Professor Allan Curtis said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce new students to study and life at CSU. “Orientation Week provides space for 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. Major events during the remainder of the week include: Wednesday 24 February – Big BBQ for all new students at lunchtime. Students officially enrol in courses this day; Thursday 25 February – Visit to oz.e.wildlife at Ettamogah by new international students, commencing at 3pm; and, Friday 26 February – Race Around Thurgoona for new students to help get to know their local area and campus.

In any industry freelancing is not for the faint-hearted, but a Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate has one successful year under her belt and is confident her second will be even better. Ms Gemma Thornton had experiences as varied as sailing on the eco-boat ‘Ady Gil’ and maintaining the boat’s videoblog while moored in New Zealand’s Auckland Harbour, to working on broadcasts for the ABC and SBS. Ms Thornton, who grew up in Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast, finished a Bachelor of Arts in Television Production in 2008. She says she was prepared to give freelancing a go for a year to “see if I could carve out a career”. “During the past year I found the skills and training gained at Charles Sturt University were outstanding and stand up well in professional practice. I feel well-prepared to go out on my own for another year,” she said. “The opportunity to work last November as a volunteer on the ‘Ady Gil’, one of the boats operated by the Sea Shepherd conservation group, was incredible. I really felt that we could make a difference. Of course it’s a memory cherished more fondly since the boat was sunk in the Antarctic in January.” Ms Thornton says the contacts she built in 2009 will help her find work in television studios doing camera operating and assistance work this year.

Celebrating Your Future is the theme of Orientation 2010 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 February. In distinctive yellow t-shirts, student coordinator and leaders will welcome the new arrivals at CSU in Dubbo as part of the week-long introduction to university life. Orientation 2010 activities include academic information sessions, campus and library tours and a cocktail party welcoming news students and their families at the Western Plains Cultural Centre hosted by the Dubbo City Council. The Head of CSU in Dubbo, Doctor Beverley Moriarty will officially welcome the new students and their families at 1pm on Tuesday 23 February. The Orientation 2010 program, which is coordinated by the Division of Student Services at CSU, can be found here. The University expects to enrol about 2 800 new on campus students in 2010, with 80 based in Dubbo.

Celebrating Your Future is the theme of Orientation 2010 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 February. In distinctive yellow t-shirts, student coordinator Nicole Forbes and 16 student leaders will welcome the new arrivals at CSU in Orange as part of the week-long introduction to university life. Orientation 2010 activities include academic information sessions, campus and library tours and a community focused social event encouraging students to get to know the city. “We want new students to get to know the place they’re going to call home for the next three or four years,” Nicole said. “It’s like a great race with clues along the way at different shops they’ll need during their time here.” The Head of CSU in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton will officially welcome the new students and their families at 1pm on Tuesday 23 February. The Orientation 2010 program, which is coordinated by the Division of Student Services at CSU, can be found here. The University expects to enrol about 2 800 new on campus students in 2010, with 150 based in Orange.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) has been awarded much sought after international quality accreditation. The NWGIC, located at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, implemented a quality management system for its research activities in 2006.  Following an external review and audit in June 2007, the Centre was awarded accreditation for its implementation of the ISO 9000 Quality Management System. This achievement, driven by Mrs Helen Pan (NWGIC), Mr Chris O'Connell (NSW DPI), Professor Geoff Scollary (CSU), and Mrs Cathy Campbell (NSW DPI), reinforces the NWGIC’s place at the forefront of Australian research facilities. Director of the NWGIC Professor Thomas Henick-Kling says the quality accreditation is a wonderful achievement and shows a commitment to quality. The NWGIC is the home of leading wine industry research activities including the Winegrowing Futures Program.

Celebrating Your Future is the theme of Orientation 2010 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Monday 22 to Friday 26 February. In distinctive yellow t-shirts, five student coordinators and 45 student leaders will welcome the new arrivals at CSU in Wagga Wagga as part of the week-long introduction to university life. Orientation 2010 activities include academic information sessions, campus, library and Wagga Wagga city tours as well as social events such as an all-age, alcohol-free pool party from 5 to 8pm on Thursday 25 February. The Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga Mr Adrian Lindner will officially welcome the new students and their families during the Commencement Ceremony from 2 to 3pm in Joyes Hall on Monday 22 February. The Orientation 2010 program, which is coordinated by the Division of Student Services at CSU, can be found here. The University expects to enrol about 2 800 new on-campus students in 2010; 1 050 based at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) continues to expand with construction of new student residences in Orange almost complete. Joss Construction began civil works associated with new residences at CSU in Orange in January 2009 and are working hard to ensure the building is complete prior to new students arriving on Monday 22 February. “Student numbers are constantly increasing at Charles Sturt University,” Head of Campus Professor Kevin Parton said. “With the introduction of physiotherapy this year, and more courses planned for the future, the new accommodation will be an important addition to the campus.” New accommodation includes kitchens, common rooms and male and female bathrooms. “We are fortunate to have plenty of space for even more accommodation in future and look forward to offering all first year students the opportunity to live on campus.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will celebrate its close relations with the Wiradjuri people when a flag raising ceremony is held on the Thurgoona site of CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 19 February. Representatives from CSU and the Wiradjuri Council of Elders will be welcomed by local Wiradjuri person, Pastor Darren Wighton in a traditional “Welcome to Country”, said Wiradjuri elder and Koori academic at CSU, Yalmambirra. Head of CSU at Albury-Wodonga, Professor Allan Curtis said Wiradjuri elders provide advice about cultural heritage management on the University’s Thurgoona site. “Activities like the flag raising ceremony reflect CSU’s wider commitment to engage Indigenous people in the University’s teaching and research in areas such as nursing, teaching and natural resource management,” Professor Curtis said. The event will commence at 9.30am in front of the Learning Commons building on the University’s Thurgoona site, with the flag raising ceremony at 10am. Students will return to CSU campuses on Monday 22 February for Orientation Week.

An international expert on the management of behaviour in children with a rare genetic condition will headline a one day workshop at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. Ms Brenda Finucane, a genetic counsellor and Executive Director of Elwyn Genetics in the USA will address the workshop, Strategies for Managing Children with Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS) from 9.30am to 5pm on Friday 19 February. The Syndrome is a rare disorder which can lead to a series of physical, developmental and behavioural challenges. Initiated by the CSU Faculty of Arts and hosted by the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, the workshop aims to raise awareness of SMS in Australia. “Although SMS is relatively rare, it often goes undiagnosed as doctors are not familiar with it,” said CSU researcher Dr Chris Blanchard, who has a child with SMS. “Of all the various genetic syndromes, it is thought that children with SMS are the most difficult to manage due to their characteristic antisocial behaviour.” Families and carers of children with SMS from around Australia will attend the workshop to share their experiences. Also attending are allied health professionals and teachers from inland NSW, the NSW Central Coast and Wollongong,