The tapping sound of typing is replacing the rustle of paper and scratching of pens across lecture theatres in regional Australia as students purchase laptop computers though Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) rebate scheme. CSU is offering a $300 rebate to on campus undergraduate students who purchase a laptop for their studies. Lecturers welcome the rebate scheme. Head of CSU at Dubbo, Mr Gary Shipp, said “The scheme is designed to encourage and assist students make the most of accessing university online systems when visiting and studying on campus. Distance students can take advantage of the scheme when required to attend compulsory residential schools on campus. I hope it will make note taking and assessment writing easier for our students."

Known as the happiest country in the world, Vanuatu residents have a few less teeth to smile with after visiting medical staff extracted over 400 teeth on Tongoa Island in the western Pacific. Charles Sturt University (CSU) final year nursing student Ms Tabitha Pandey recently travelled with 11 other Australian and New Zealand health care workers to take part in a medical camp on the island. “We were amused when we went to look at the centre to find a chicken laying an egg on a bed in the labour ward,” Tabitha reports. “There was no running water or electricity and very little equipment. Despite all this, the camp was a huge success as the locals and travelling medical team pulled together and improvised with what we had.” More than 700 locals were treated by doctors, dentists, eye specialists and counsellors. “Some patients travelled several hours by boat to attend the clinic from a nearby island, which goes to show what little health care is available.”      

An initial survey of NSW households by a Charles Sturt University researcher has found most householders are looking at ways to become more energy efficient by using less electricity. However, while environmental concern is one reason people aim to reduce their usage, according to CSU postgraduate student Ms Jodie Kleinschafer it is the “larger than expected electricity bill” that is the more immediate motivator. “When ‘average’ householders get larger than expected electricity bills, they start to look for ways to reduce the electricity they use,” said Mrs Kleinschafer, who is undertaking a three year, $100 000 research project funded by Country Energy. So far, Mrs Kleinschafer has surveyed 80 households, and in conjunction with Country Energy will survey a further 4 000 regional NSW households in the next two months. She said the findings of her research would enable electricity retailers to manage increasing electricity demand in a way that still satisfies the needs of residential electricity consumers.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Veterinary Science Clinical Building at Wagga Wagga has received two awards this month for its construction and innovative design. Joss Constructions won the Master Builders Association of NSW ‘Excellence in Construction Award’ in the Tertiary Buildings category valued under $10 million. The Australian Steel Institute of NSW and ACT awarded a high recommendation in the ‘Architectural Steel Design Award’ to Merat Architects, Wood and Grieve Engineers, Joss Constructions and Southern Central Engineering. The clinic includes modern surgical facilities for large and small animals, diagnostic imaging and reproduction services for horses. Fourth year veterinary science students are the first CSU students to benefit from the clinic which was officially opened in July 2008.

Commitment to a University-wide environmental initiative has gained Charles Sturt University (CSU) $77 000 from the NSW Government to assist energy and water conservation on its Wagga Wagga site. CSU has committed $300 000 to introduce conservation measures to campus infrastructure, teaching spaces and office accommodation. Director of Operations and Maintenance, Mr Wayne Millar, said the project, 'Learning by Doing', combines practical water and energy saving measures with education to raise awareness of water and energy management among CSU students, staff and the Wagga Wagga community. “The project includes lighting, air conditioning and water efficiency upgrades across the campus, which is projected to save 443 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and more than four million litres of water each year.” With CSU at Wagga Wagga leading, CSU will develop energy management plans for each campus and move towards the goal of becoming a ‘greener’ University.