Is your organisation looking for enthusiastic and able volunteers for a short term project in the Albury-Wodonga community? Up to 200 first year students from the School of Community Health on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus are seeking at least 40 hours work in Border community organisations. Podiatry lecturer Harriet Farquhar said the project helps students learn the value of volunteer community work and the types of volunteer organisations in the Australian community. “Allied health professionals need to understand that through their professions they are serving their community in a helping role, working with a range of people and institutions,” Ms Farquhar said. The student volunteer project – totalling at least 8 000 hours of community assistance – is also a compulsory part of students’ practical work for CSU allied health degrees. Organisations wanting to learn more about the student volunteer project contact CSU staff on telephone (02) 6051 6820.

The Flinders Ranges in South Australia beckon Mr Joey Hull, Indigenous Student Support Officer at the Wammara Indigenous Student Services Unit at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, when he retires on Friday 30 July. For the last four and a half years Mr Hull has recruited Indigenous students from across regional NSW to CSU courses, and has seen positive growth in both interest and applications. “I look forward to heading home to my mother’s country in the Flinders Ranges, but I leave Charles Sturt University confident that this extremely important role, and the University’s mission to increase the number of Indigenous students and graduates, will continue,” Mr Hull said. “When I started we had about 35 students who were offered courses through the Koori Admissions Program (KAP), but in 2009, as a result of the KAP, we had a big increase in enquiries which translated into 53 student enrolments in a range of courses in 2010. Many of the enquiries were for the policing course, which enrolled 10 Indigenous students this year, and the rest were spread across areas such as teaching, psychology, mental health, natural resources and social work.”

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) students who formed 18 teams to compete in 10 sports at the recent 2010 Eastern University Games at Coffs Harbour in NSW came fourth overall on points and won the Ann Mitchell Cup for points scored per capita of university enrolments. The CSU team manager, Mr Nik Granger, said, “This is a very good result from a great week of competition where all our students participated in the right spirit. The Charles Sturt University team comprised 180 students from all our campuses, as well as some distance education students. The competition was extremely good, and we had a few teams heading for gold medals. After dominating the pools, our highly-fancied Mixed Touch Football team took the silver medal when, in the final game, they contested a University of Wollongong side that contained a number of national representative players. The Ten Pin Bowlers were the surprise, finishing the competition with a silver medal, as did one of the Lawn Bowls teams. We can be very proud of this effort.”

Three international students have experienced the ultimate taste test, maturing their cheese making skills at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Cheese Factory. The students, Wai Yee Fung, Pei Leng Chong and Hooi Chee Tan from the University of Science, Malaysia (USM) gained experience in commercial cheese production during an eight-week internship at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus. The students, who are studying for degrees in food technology and chemical science at USM, have produced sample batches of Sorke, Paneer and Juusota cheeses, none of which are commercially available in Australia. The public’s tastebuds were tempted when these cheese varieties were ”taste tested” at the popular Farmers Markets in Wagga Wagga during the June long-weekend. Barry Lillywhite says it is possible these cheeses could go into full commercial production at the CSU Cheese Factory.

The pathway for rural and regional students in north east Victoria to pursue higher education will expand with the signing of a new agreement between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed by the two institutions in Shepparton on Monday 19 July. Under the new agreement, GOTAFE students completing a diploma or advanced diploma in agriculture; equine stud management or equine performance management; or nursing will receive guaranteed entry and/or credit into related degree programs offered by CSU. In addition the degree program will be delivered at GOTAFE in Wangaratta meaning regional students will be able to further their studies without the need to relocate from the area.

It was a long, hot, dry summer for Bathurst residents, who had to cope without a public pool. That is set to change in September when Bathurst Regional Council (BRC) unveils the new $12.5 million Aquatic Centre, and Charles Sturt University (CSU) project management students are keen to help with celebration ideas. Andrew Mashman from CSU’s School of Marketing and Management explains 30 students have divided into five teams, to work on launch plans that will “engage the community or specific target markets in events surrounding the opening of the pool – it is important to get everyone from all walks of life to the Aquatic Centre in the first weeks”. Victoria Jackson, BRC’s manager of marketing and communication says Council was “looking for launch ideas and now the students have a chance to throw their ideas into the ring. As an added resource for our events team, it helps to have fresh eyes.”

The finals of Animal Idol will be held on the Wagga Wagga Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU) tomorrow. The brainchild of Professor Martin Sillence in the CSU Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences School and course coordinator of the new Bachelor of Animal Science, Animal Idol has first year Animal Science students compete in an Australian Idol-style competition. “It is designed to improve presentation skills,” said Dr Sillence. “Each week a different topic is researched and I set a distinct theme and context. Once students gave a presentation aimed at school children, another was an ‘unplugged’ presentation with no power point or other electronic devices. There is a panel of judges drawn from CSU - perhaps one is a little bit ‘Marcia’, and two are a little bit ‘Dicko’. The students vote by SMS to eliminate one of the presentation teams. It is novel, but it seems to be working. I have been amazed by the standard of presentations and the way the students have improved from week to week.”

Wine innovation has arrived at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) with Dr Jim Hardie accepting the role as Professor of Winegrowing Innovation. Dr Hardie has more than 30 years experience in viticultural research and vineyard management including ten years with Brown Brothers Vineyards at Milawa in north east Victoria where he established the Whitlands Vineyard, a pioneering project in cool climate viticulture. Dr Hardie is a strong advocate of international collaboration, with particular interest in applying new knowledge and technology to produce premium quality wine and other grape products. Dr Hardie says his goal is “to accelerate the contribution of CSU and its collaborators in the NWGIC toward intellectual leadership and value-adding, high impact, technical innovation within the Australian wine industry”.

A seven-week pilot project at Masterfoods in Bathurst will expand into a larger study later this year, according to Dr Rob Duffield, lecturer in the School of Human Movement (SOHM) at Charles Sturt University. Twenty shift workers participated in an exercise training program with predictable results – improved fitness and weight loss. As well, the participants reported lower stress levels, less fatigue, and clearer on-the-job decision making. There was even “a small trend in improved absenteeism and reporting of sickness,” said Dr Duffield. Sport and exercise psychologist in the SOHM Dr Les Podlog interviewed the participants about their on-going commitment to the program. He identified camaraderie amongst the group and enhanced self-confidence as key contributing factors. In addition, “shift workers require convenient scheduling times to ensure sustained participation, and it is important to mix people who already get along,” Dr Podlog said.