An international conference in Canberra this week will explore how the Christian message speaks in public and civic life in Australia and globally. The Christian Mission in the Public Square conference will be held at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C) from Thursday 2 October to Sunday 5 October. About 80 participants from across Australia, Asia and New Zealand will attend the conference which is co-sponsored by the Australian Association for Mission Studies (AAMS) and CSU’s strategic research centre, Public and Contextual Theology (PACT). Director of the ACC&C and Chairman of the Global Network for Public Theology (GNPT), the Reverend Professor James Haire, AM, said “This conference will discuss the history, theology and practice of the Christian mission, and public theology in word and action. For example, some could argue that there is a contradiction between the Christian mission and public theology, while others might assert that public theology is the most legitimate way of engaging civil society with the claims of Christianity in our time.” The conference’s keynote speaker, South African theologian Professor Nico Koopman, will discuss the Christian mission in the public arena of South Africa, and its implications internationally.

Fundraising efforts by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have seen several hundred dollars presented recently to two organisations in Wagga Wagga. Ms Coleen Pearce from the Health Promotion Service in the CSU Division of Student Services presented $550 to the Women’s Health Clinic in September. Ms Pearce also presented $360 on behalf of students to Ronald McDonald House in Wagga Wagga. The money was raised in 2007 during activities on the Wagga Wagga Campus including the sexual health initiative, Vaginal Awareness Week, and the mental health promotion day, ‘Chill Out’, which was held in October last year. The Health Promotion Service offers positive health promotions on campuses throughout the year to encourage a preventative approach to the health of the students. The service is organising student activities this week to mark National Mental Health Week.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) nursing graduates are helping to build resilience against mental health issues in rural and regional Australia says the University’s Associate Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Linda Goddard. “More than ten percent of our graduates choose to work in the field of mental health each year and they are remaining in that field,” Ms Goddard explained. “Graduates return to CSU to talk to our current students about their work and are involved in the clinical environment supervising and mentoring our students when they are out on placement. Each year more graduates are gaining employment not only in local adult mental health services but also child and adolescent mental health.” CSU’s Graduate Certificate in Rural Mental Health Nursing aims to prepare registered nurses to practice in a variety of rural and remote settings to meet the mental health needs of diverse clients. “Our graduates are equipped to deal with the issues of mental health and the success of our postgraduate programs is demonstrated with the number of professionals with a CSU degree working in the industry.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer in Teacher Education, Mr Bob Dengate, wishes regional NSW students well in the looming HSC exams, but suggests that there is much more involved than luck. “It’s all about preparation. HSC students have spent the past two years preparing for these exams in one way or another,” he said. “The students who will do best are those who have a balanced life, yet have done the extra work, using value-added resources such as study groups and online services.” The CSU Director of NSW HSC Online, Mr Dengate has been involved in the recent introduction of study tips on the CSU website link. “This is a great way for students to help students. There are plenty of useful tips already and we invite students to also add their favourite tips and to visit the Study & Exams part of NSW HSC Online”. Developed in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education and Training, the website link provides access to quality educational resources for rural and regional students.

Indigenous staff from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will consider issues regarding Indigenous education and employment in the institution at a meeting in Albury on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 October. Director of the CSU Centre of Indigenous Studies and Head of CSU at Dubbo, Mr Gary Shipp, will open the meeting with Pastor Darren Wighton, who will also welcome visitors to Wiradjuri country. On Wednesday evening during the conference dinner, the participants will hear from Chair of the National Indigenous Higher Education Council, Mr Gary Thomas, who will speak on Indigenous education in Australia and overseas. Coordinator of CSU’s Indigenous Employment Strategy, Ms Karen Kime, said CSU has already ready reached its 2007 target of two per cent of all CSU staff being Indigenous people, and it aims to reach three per cent by 2011.

Four Charles Sturt University (CSU) public relations students will be in the middle of high-octane engine revving V8 Supercars action this weekend when they assist organisers to stage the 2008 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 race at the internationally famous Mount Panorama motor racing circuit. Starting today, Tuesday 7 October, the second- and third-year students will work at the race headquarters to help with media and race team liaison until the end of the race on Sunday. Mr Donald Alexander, the course co-ordinator of public relations and organisational communication  at the CSU School of Communication, said the annual Bathurst 1000 race meets the course’s requirement to provide as much real-world work experience as possible during the students’ courses. “The race organisers have praised our students for their creativity, enthusiasm and hard work at the race in the past three years, and this job-ready experience assists our students to be top of the list whenever they seek graduate public relations positions,” he said.

During National Mental Health Week, which runs from Sunday 5 to Sunday 12 October, Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst is planning activities for students and staff to raise awareness of mental health issues and the resources available to them. Starting at 12pm on Wednesday 8 October on the University library lawn, the University’s Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Committee will host a free bar-b-que at a stall with brochures, ’stress less’ activities and free information. CSU OH&S spokesperson, Ms Meghan Bailey, said “To support the Mental Health Week theme of ‘building resilience and promoting a positive attitude to help appreciate the little things’, the University student support team including counsellor Ms Jerre Weaver and the University’s campus nurse, Ms Kathryn Foster, will speak to students and staff about services available to them. Staff from Headspace, a Federal Government-sponsored mental health initiative for youth, will also be on campus.”

The existence of art in our everyday lives was highlighted during the opening of an exhibition of works by Charles Sturt University (CSU) Master of Arts student Mr Jason Kalt. The 22 mixed media pieces by Mr Kalt were positively received when the exhibition, Deus Ex Machina, was opened by the Head of CSU at Wagga Wagga, Professor David Green, on Tuesday 30 September. “These works are playful and engaging,” said Professor Green. Congratulating the artist, Professor Green told the audience that “our lives are imbued with the notion of art”. The exhibition in the HR Gallop Gallery on the University’s Wagga Wagga Campus runs until Friday 17 October.

Events highlighting the need for a healthy lifestyle, mental health, and personal and work safety for Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students will be held at the University’s Dubbo Campus from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 October. CSU Campus Operations Manager, Ms Heather Bell, said the event combines issues highlighted by national Mental Health Week on 5 to 11 October and Safe Work Australia Week on 19 to 25 October. “The University’s Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) committee members will wear safety vests and helmets throughout the week to be easily identifiable, and they will introduce themselves to students and staff so that anybody with OH&S concerns will know who to contact.” Activities will include information stalls, talks about health and wellbeing, and stress and stress management, competitions and free healthy food.