Advancing child safety and child-friendly initiatives is the focus of a conference being held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 28 June.The Bathurst Child and Family Network (BCFN) is hosting the 'Working to build child-safe, child-friendly communities' one-day conference to promote child protection initiatives within the Bathurst region thanks to local network development funding from the Department of Family and Community Services.Nationally recognised speakers Mr Brian Babbington, the CEO of Families Australia, and Mr Andrew MacCallum, CEO of the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies, will address the conference.The BCFN has been awarded a CSU Community-University Partnership (CUP) grant under the Rural and Regional Community Initiated Research Program, to evaluate the initiative.Dr Sandie Wong (pictured), senior lecturer in CSU's School of Teacher Education and researcher at the Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE), said, "We're very pleased to be able to be part of such an important local initiative that puts children's rights first. Charles Sturt University academics will attend the conference, and Dr Tamara Cumming and I will undertake the project evaluation titled, 'Impact measurement: evaluation of the impact of Building a child-safe, child-friendly community initiative in Bathurst'."Ms Annette Meyers, facilitator of the Bathurst Early Learning Support (BELS) and chairperson of BCFN, said, "We believe that 'it takes a village to raise a child' and our vision is for all children and families to be happy, healthy, safe and thrive in Bathurst. We have a genuine desire to provide opportunities for children, young people and families to be heard and taken seriously."Conference participants will include senior managers, principals, directors and board members of relevant organisations.

High school students from the Riverina will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Monday 27 June for a youth forum on developing a long-term vision for the region.Organised by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and CSU, the forum will focus on the draft Riverina-Murray Regional Plan which outlines a 20-year vision.The Plan is on public exhibition until Thursday 21 July and outlines goals for the economy, transport, planning and the environment.During the forum in the CSU Convention Centre, local students from years 11 and 12 will be asked what think about the Riverina-Murray region and their top five priorities for its development.Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew will open the forum at 10am.Feedback from the students will be considered when preparing the final Riverina-Murray Regional Plan.

The 2016 scholarship ceremonies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo will honour the memory and generosity of two passionate advocates for regional higher education.The annual ceremonies celebrate the academic achievements and endeavours of current students enrolled in arts, business, education, and science courses at CSU.This year the events have special significance as CSU Foundation Trust welcomes the receipt of a bequest of over $3 million from Carole and Stan Droder. They will be joined by other local businesses and organisations in presenting scholarships to deserving students to assist them in their studies.The ceremonies will be held at CSU in Dubbo at 6pm Tuesday 24 May; at CSU in Orange at 10am Wednesday 25 May; and at CSU in Bathurst at 11.30am Friday 27 May.CSU Foundation administers over 300 scholarships annually, and in 2016 more than $1.2 million in scholarships will be awarded across all CSU campuses to help students reach their full potential.The Foundation recognises that by giving rural and regional students in Australia fair access to higher education, CSU can develop professionals who have experience in regional areas and further afield, which will help them to maintain and develop healthy local economies and vibrant communities.

Candlelight vigils will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst and in central Wagga Wagga later today, Thursday 16 June to remember the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in the USA.In the first event at 5pm on the CSU library lawn in Bathurst, the CSU student club, the Queer Collective, will host the vigil. From 7pm in Wagga Wagga's Victory Memorial Gardens, members of the University student club, Momentum have joined with Wagga Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) to host another vigil.Members of the local communities are invited to attend both events to show their support and respect for the Orlando victims and show solidarity with the LGBTIQA community.People are asked to bring a candle.

Over 600 high school students and teachers from across the Riverina region will attend the annual HSC English Study Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 24 June.Mr David Gilbey (pictured), adjunct senior lecturer in English in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the coordinator of the HSC English Study Day, said 40 lectures, workshops, and discussion panels will be presented on texts and topics being studied by Standard and Advanced English students for the 2016 HSC."The day's focus will include poetry, prose, drama, film, techniques, writing skills, and exam tips – from William Shakespeare and Henry Lawson to contemporary Indigenous and multicultural perspectives," Mr Gilbey said."For students it is an opportunity to get another perspective on the work they're concentrating on for the HSC, and for teachers it's a professional development occasion."English teachers and academics are such word wizards, I hope the day will shine with verbal magic," he said.The sessions will run from 9.30am to 2.20pm and will be presented mostly by teachers of English from regional high schools and academics from CSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences.Students and teachers will come from as far as Tumut, Yass, Yanco, Leeton, Junee, Culcairn, Gundagai and Temora, as well as from Wagga and surrounds.The HSC English Study Day is organised by the Wagga Wagga Branch of the English Teachers Association, in association with CSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Booranga Writers' Centre.

Indigenous students from across the state are preparing to join the NSW Police Force with the help of a workforce essentials course at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo.Thirty six graduates of the awarding-winning Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) are now studying the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials through CSU.IPROWD aims to increase the number of Indigenous Australians in the NSW Police Force and these students will study on campus at CSU in Dubbo full time for five weeks to complete their University Certificates.Course Manager Dr Amanda Davies said, "Success in the University Certificate and pre-entrance exam enables students to progress in the recruitment process that leads toward attending the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn."Success in these studies prepares the prospective students for enrolling in CSU's Associate Degree in Policing Practice, completion of which is required to join the NSW Police Force as a Probationary Constable," Dr Davies said."This extensive process helps maintain the high academic and professional standards demanded of new recruits by the NSW Police Force, while helping prepare indigenous Australians for the academic rigour of university courses."The next intake for the NSW Police Academy is in August this year.

Almost 200 agriculture, primary industries and science students from across the Riverina will converge on the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation in Wagga Wagga on Friday 10 and Friday 17 June for the annual Science and Agriculture Enrichment Days.Since the event's inception in 2006, high school students have received an insight into the work of agricultural and veterinary scientists.It gives student's hands-on experience working with researchers from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and NSW Department of Primary Industries in four 45 minute workshops.With the current skills shortage in agriculture escalating, this day provides a great opportunity for students to see science in action, encouraging them to consider a future career in the agricultural supply chain.This year students will participate in hands on workshops looking at lamb production and management; the rise of superbugs; the health benefits of rice and insights into careers in agriculture.The workshops will be held in the University's National Life Sciences Hub and the CSU sheep-yards. The Graham Centre is an alliance between CSU and NSW DPI.

Renowned author and social commentator Mr Hugh Mackay, AO, returns to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst to deliver a CSU Explorations Series public lecture on Thursday 16 June.Mr Mackay (pictured) will discuss his new book, Beyond Belief: How we find meaning, with or without religion, which explores the ways we try to find a sense of meaning and purpose, and even a 'spiritual direction', in a society where traditional religious faith and practice are in sharp decline.Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu, said, "Charles Sturt University's Explorations Series is part of our Community-University Partnership (CUP) program to engage our communities in discussions and debate on major issues. The Exploration Series resonates with our role and mission as a regional University to explore and take education to rural and regional Australia as part of our community social responsibility, and to share and stimulate intellectual discussions in our communities."In Beyond Belief: How we find meaning and purpose without religion, Mr Mackay argues that while our attachment to a traditional idea of God may be waning, our desire for a sense of meaning remains as strong as ever. He looks at the various ways we try to find transcendence in our often stridently materialistic lives, and considers what may be lost with the wholesale casting out of organised religion. He strongly endorses the Christian ideal of the good life - a life lived for others - but acknowledges there are many pathways to that same goal, not all of them religious."It will be a great pleasure to welcome Mr Mackay to campus on Thursday 16 June to discuss some of these issues with our Bathurst and regional communities," Professor Anyanwu said. "As one of Australia's most widely respected authors, his book and lecture will stimulate passionate debate about one of the most important but least examined ways we negotiate our world and manage our lives."

Charles Sturt University will host a forum focused on the future needs for education and skills training at its Regional Study Centre in Wangaratta this week.The forum will feature leading futurist and strategist Dr Peter Ellyard, who will assist community and industry leaders across the region and representatives from CSU and Goulburn Ovens TAFE to discuss future trends, priorities and needs for education across North East Victoria."Dr Ellyard is a prominent futurist and strategist, known for his challenging and inspirational ideas on shaping the future," said coordinator of the invitation-only event and manager of CSU's Regional Study Centre, Ms Ilena Young."As our global society becomes more interdependent and interconnected, we need to come together to prepare for the challenges of keeping pace with fast moving regional changes."The afternoon forum is a collaborative opportunity to consider the future of North East Victoria, and the education and skills that we will need to support a thriving and sustainable community." The forum will run from 1pm to 6 pm on Thursday 9 June at the Wangaratta Regional Study Centre, 218 Tone Road, Wangaratta.