There will be a special graduation ceremony for one Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate due to his inability to attend the ceremonies in Wagga Wagga last month. Mr Simon Stanbouli is an inmate at the Wellington Correctional Centre in central west NSW. While in custody he completed a Bachelor of Business (Business Management) with Distinction. “A number of obstacles faced this student during his distance education studies including no access to the internet, the need to submit handwritten assignments and his inability to speak directly with his lecturer,” said Dr Padma Nathan from the School of Business at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “It is no mean task to score a High Distinction or a Distinction in any subject, and yet Simon managed these grades in virtually every subject at Charles Sturt University. Credit is also due to all the academic and administrative staff who have acknowledged the difficulties Simon faced and endeavoured to go out of their way to help him.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) social work student from Newcastle will start 2010 studying the health system of Mexico and reflecting on Australia’s system from an international perspective. Ms Elizabeth Losurdo, who is studying a Bachelor of Social Work at CSU by distance education, will study ‘Health Sciences in Mexico; Management and Practice’ at La Salle University in Mexico City from Sunday 10 January to Saturday 6 February. The study trip will include academic classes, visits to hospitals and other health facilities as well as cultural studies. “I wanted to go to Mexico because my mother is from this country, so I am interested to learn about the culture,” said Ms Losurdo, who is travelling to Mexico with financial assistance from CSU Global.

A play based on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be staged by students and staff from the School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 May. The Popular Mechanicals is directed by Ms Annabel Scholes, a lecturer in theatre and event management, and is designed by Mr Karl Shead, a theatre technical officer at CSU, in association with CYCLE Productions. “The play was written by Australian playwrights Tony Taylor and Keith Robinson and was first presented in 1987 at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney,” Ms Scholes said. “It is the hilarious, off-stage story of six clowns - Bottom, Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snug and Snout - as they prepare for immortal fame by performing their version of Pyramus and Thisbe at the Royal Wedding. As they rehearse they are unaware of their own limitations and foolishness, and we love them for their belief in themselves as they sing and dance their way to inevitable ruination.”

Charles Student University (CSU) animal science students came face to face with the harsh reality of elephant cruelty and mistreatment during a visit to Thailand to undertake a project on wildlife conservation. The 18 day excursion in January centred on volunteer work at the Elephant Nature Park near Chang Mai in the country’s north. The park rescues maltreated, physically handicapped and mentally disturbed Asian elephants and provides a sanctuary for their rehabilitation. One agricultural science and 17 animal science students from CSU returned from the trip last week, recounting their cherished experiences being ‘up close and personal’ when feeding and washing the elephants. Course Coordinator of the CSU veterinary science program, Dr Gaye Krebs said the trip was an incredible learning experience and one student is planning to return to the park next year. “It was the impetus for one student to propose an Honours project with Lek, who runs the park, which is a fantastic outcome,” said Dr Krebs. “The trip went ahead with the assistance of CSU Global and the IGA supermarket at Hillston who donated $6 000 towards costs.”

International experience is a key objective of Charles Sturt University (CSU) in its education of students. Two CSU Bachelor of Pharmacy students, Mr Sam Ledger from Mudgee and Mr Lloyd Smith from Broken Hill, gained that when they attended the 7th Asia-Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium in Khon Kaen in northern Thailand in June and July. Eleven countries were represented at the Symposium along with numerous industry professionals, medical specialists and academics. “It was at a talk by Dr Jon Ungphakorn from the AIDS Access Foundation in Thailand  that we began to appreciate the afflictions and inequalities that exist in countries not as fortunate as Australia,” said Mr Ledger, who is also vice-president of the CSU student organisation, Pharmers' Club. The students have brought back plans for a communication workshop for CSU students and plans to promote international student exchange and student involvement in promoting awareness of public health issues.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) reputation as a leader in early childhood education is highlighted by its involvement in the second Early Years Education Ontario Network (EYEON) Symposium on Friday 16 April. The event will bring together a range of organisations with responsibility for young children including 250 administrators, researchers, front-line teachers, early childhood educators, and government policy makers. The Program Director of CSU’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Dr Pat Dickinson said, “Charles Sturt University has provided substantial support in organising and facilitating the symposium, and continues to be an active member of EYEON. The main aim of the symposium is to link current teaching methods into research in early childhood education. EYEON members work to promote advocacy for children from infants to eight years by building knowledge and capacity, professional learning and research in action.” Other symposium sponsors are the Council for Early Child Development, the Peel District School Board, The Learning Partnership, and the Halton Catholic District School Board. The keynote speaker is Mr Jim Grieve, the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Early Learning Division in the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Freyer Colvin, a second year Equine Sciences student at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus, is also a skilled young horse rider who will soon represent Australia at two elite international equine competitions. Ms Colvin, as a member of the Australian Pony Club’s under 21 team, will compete at the one day Interpacific Rally in the United States on Tuesday 17 July. Freyer will then go on to the Nation’s Cup showjumping competition two weeks later in Washington State. Freyer, who has been riding horses since the age of six, says she is excited about her forthcoming trip, and proud to fly the flag for Australia, CSU, her home town of Launceston, and the state of Tasmania. The 19 year old says the excellent equine facilities located at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus allows her to achieve her academic goals while at the same time continuing to train and compete at an elite level.

Four television production students and an acting student from Charles Sturt University (CSU) have returned to CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus on the weekend after testing their television production skills at the world’s biggest sporting event for four weeks at the Beijing Olympics. The students were employed as camera operators and production support staff on the Olympic Green in the Chinese capital. The third year students have hailed their time at the Olympic Games as a wonderful opportunity as they prepare to embark on their careers at the end of the year. “We loved going into work each day during the Olympics,” said television production student Ms Katrina Beesley. “The grounding that we had from CSU lecturers gave us the professionalism we needed to work at the international event and that was reaffirmed by our employers. Hopefully, Beijing will be the first of many Olympics Games that we get to work on." The CSU School of Visual and Performing Arts, educates television production students for entry to the television industry.

A mental health worker from the remote Pilbara region of Australia’s far northwest has been honoured by Charles Sturt University (CSU) for her achievements in the unique Djirruwang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Program. Ms Katie Papertalk is the first Western Australian student in the University’s Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) degree to receive a Faculty of Science Dean’s Award. Students who have achieved consistent Distinctions or High Distinctions are nominated for the award. In a ceremony in the Marr Mooditj Foundation garden in Perth, Ms Papertalk was presented the Dean’s Award by the Djirruwang Program Director Mr Wayne Rigby. “Receiving a Dean’s Award is a proud moment for any student and for an Aboriginal student it is an honour for themselves as well as their family and community,” Mr Rigby said. Since its inception as a pilot program in southern NSW in 1994, the Djirruwang Program has graduated 111 mental health workers. “With the support of the WA Department of Health, Charles Sturt University expects a record student intake from Western Australia in 2011,” said Mr Rigby.