Clap stick painting, bush tucker barbeques, storytelling, dance, poster displays and face painting will all be on show at the annual Indigenous Day for Border primary schools and preschools run by Charles Sturt University (CSU). Students enrolled in the early childhood education course will demonstrate ethical, appropriate teaching for Indigenous activities for children. “At some point in their teaching careers, CSU students will be required to work in groups and these presentations will allow them to gauge how they can do this in ways that work for the benefit of both teachers and school children,” said the event coordinator and CSU Indigenous academic, Yalmambirra. Around 800 school children will attend the event from 9am to 2.30pm on Thursday 12 November, at Mirambeena Community Centre, Lavington (opposite Lavington swimming pool).

Academics, students and industry representatives will gather for the official opening of the Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS) at the School of Computing and Mathematics  at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst on Thursday 12 November. The Director of CRiCS, Professor Terry Bossomaier, said, “The natural, biological and social worlds abound with patterns in time, in space, and in human knowledge, and understanding how patterns emerge and evolve is a key research focus of the sciences of complexity. Increasing research activity over the last decade has revolved around human systems. It is this psychological and sociological dimension that is particularly strong in CRiCS which has three main integrated research themes. These are the nature of complexity itself and the theories which characterise it; complexity as a methodology for solving problems in the real world; and complexity as a model for theorising about social systems, dynamics and change.” Guests at the official opening of the CRiCS laboratories will also be able to inspect the Newcrest Mining Research and Robotics Lab, the Computer Vision Lab, the Visualisation Lab, and the Advanced Computing Lab.

Two senior Russian academics from Vladivostok will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November. Mr Errol Chopping, Courses Manager at the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics at Bathurst, said the visit by Professor Valeriya Gribova, Professor of Computer Science at the Far East Russian Academy of Sciences, and Professor Evgeni Nurminskiy, Professor of Mathematics at the Far East National University, follows visits in January and September this year by himself and CSU’s Dr David Tien, the first-ever visits by Australians to the Academy in Vladivostok. “This landmark visit by Professor Gribova and Professor Nurminskiy is the second part of our outreach initiative into Russia, and is designed to cement a sound working relationship between Charles Sturt University and Russia,” Mr Chopping said. “During our visits to Vladivostok we met the Austrade ambassador, the Australian Ambassador to Russia and the embassy’s First Secretary, and also scheduled meetings with the Russian Minister for Tourism and Trade in Moscow. Subsequently, we were able to invite the two Russian academics to visit Australia, and we have worked on sharing and collaborating on research, holding English-speaking summer schools in Russia, two-way student and staff exchanges, and joint computer science conferences.”

Nurses working in the Riverina will be able to complete their nursing degrees while working in their communities thanks to a collaborative program between Charles Sturt University (CSU), Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and the Riverina Institute of TAFE. Thirty Enrolled Nurses with the GSAHS will upgrade their qualifications to Registered Nurse by enrolling in the CSU Bachelor of Nursing in 2008. To prepare them for their studies via distance education, they are participating in a two day workshop funded by the GSAHS at the University’s Wagga Wagga Campus on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 July. Workshop organiser Heather Latham says this successful partnership between CSU and GSAHS is helping address the critical shortage of qualified nurses in regional Australia and the Riverina. This group will join the 35 GSAHS nurses who commenced their CSU degrees earlier this year.

The hospitals and health facilities across rural NSW will soon get a boost after 15 nursing students celebrate their last days at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Dubbo with a barbeque on Monday 9 November before their exams and graduation. Ms Cathy Maginnis, lecturer in nursing and academic advisor for the Bachelor of Nursing  at Dubbo, said, “CSU's School of Nursing and Midwifery has an excellent rapport with the many health facilities across NSW, both rural and metropolitan, to ensure the clinical experience for our students is second to none so they are ready to fulfill their duties as Registered Nurses upon completion of their degree. These students have just completed their last clinical placement which enables them to integrate the theory and skills taught at university to the workplace setting. Students are currently being notified of their acceptances into postgraduate programs for next year as Registered Nurses. As most will be staying in Dubbo and surrounding areas, this reinforces the importance of CSU at Dubbo in providing professional, qualified nurses for regional NSW.”

Staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga are being encouraged to participate in a Walk at Work on Thursday 5 November. The University’s Occupational, Health and Safety (OH&S) Committee at Wagga Wagga has reshaped the annual national Walk to Work Day to try to get staff and students out and about for a brisk four kilometre walk before a hearty but healthy breakfast at the University. “It would be wonderful to see as many staff and students as possible take part in this exercise within their work environment and to take advantage of the walks around the local campus,” said OH&S Committee presiding officer Mrs Marion Kater.

A landmark of the Riverina features in an exhibition of art works by Charles Sturt University (CSU) PHD student Errol Fielder. The Rock hill, an ancient and commanding monolith with a brooding presence, marks the division between the south western slopes and the western plains in southern NSW. It has been a strong influence upon the lore and history of its surrounding district. Charles Sturt during his exploration along the Murrumbidgee River used this prominent hill as a navigational reference point. Mr Field says his exhibition, The Rock Hill; Intimacy, Nostalgia and Alienation is a visual examination of the hill’s natural history, its Wiradjuri lore, its spiritual significance, its psychological influence and it’s effects on both his own and the community's identity.

Two experts will be at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga this week to demonstrate and discuss the latest techniques in managing lower limb injuries. Chief Orthotist for Medical Accessories of Australia, Mr Andrew Torney, will speak on the latest bracing systems for lower limbs. Mr Torney has special interests in managing orthotics with children, sports injuries and lower limb orthotics. He provides orthotic care for major sporting teams such as the Australian Cricket Team, the AFL Brisbane Lions and the NRL Brisbane Broncos. His workshop will commence at 7pm on Wednesday 4 November in the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Guinea Street, Albury. Specialist sports physiotherapist and Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, Mr Matthew Stewart, will speak on and demonstrate the diagnosis and rehabilitation of ankle injuries. Mr Stewart is in private practice, has extensive experience in sports and orthopaedic rehabilitation, and is a clinical educator and lecturer with the University of Sydney and Sports Physiotherapy Australia. His workshop will commence at 7pm on Thursday 5 November in the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Guinea Street, Albury. Visit coordinator and CSU podiatry lecturer, Ms Caroline Robinson, said the free public lectures would be particularly interesting to Border health professionals who deal with lower limb injuries. “Charles Sturt University’s School of Community Health is committed to inter-professional education and the University plays an important role in the education and professional development of health professionals in regional Australia,” Ms Robinson said.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) research and teaching links with Pakistan will be highlighted when the High Commissioner of Pakistan visits Wagga Wagga on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October. CSU has forged strong relationships with Pakistan in the areas of animal and veterinary sciences and water. The High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Jalil Abbas Jilani, will meet the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Sue Thomas. The senior diplomat will also meet CSU researchers from the University’s International Centre of Water for Food Security (IC WATER) and the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. He will tour the campus including the Veterinary Clinical Centre, and visit Coleambally in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA).