A Wiradjuri woman from Wagga Wagga has been appointed to a key position in the four Indigenous Support Units (ISU) covering Charles Sturt University (CSU) campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.  Based in Wagga Wagga, Ms Therese Reid, the Units’ Programs Coordinator oversees the Koori Admissions Program, an alternative admission to university program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme, as well as supporting Indigenous students who travel to CSU for study including many students studying the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health). Ms Reid was the first Indigenous Coordinator at the Ashmont Community Resource Centre in Wagga Wagga for three years and is the daughter of Wagga Wagga Elders’ Group member, Ms Isabel Reid. “Therese’s role in supporting Indigenous students is a critical part of the University’s mission to enhance our communities by promoting Indigenous access, participation and success in tertiary education,” said Executive Director of Student Services at CSU, Mr Andrew Callander.

Detecting heart disease before the symptoms start is the subject of new research by Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher Dr Geoff Currie, a senior lecturer with the University’s School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Wagga Wagga. Dr Currie is looking at the role that the sympathetic nervous pathways can play in that detection. An examination of the body using thermography, or digital infrared imaging, can also screen for other conditions including diabetes, breast cancer and auto-immune disease. Dr Currie, who lectures in nuclear medicine, is researching the potential for thermography as a cheap, effective and mobile instrument for the early detection of disease in rural and remote Australia. He is part of the CSU-initiated Cardiovascular Research Group, which also includes researchers from Wagga Wagga Base Hospital who work collaboratively with other Australian and international universities and hospitals on research projects, from the diagnosis to treatment for heart failure, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research student in the School of Human Movement Studies on the Bathurst Campus needs healthy, physically active males aged 18 to 35 years for her research into the central nervous system and exercise. Ms Katrina Onus said that her study will investigate fatigue and athletic performance, and how to possibly overcome or delay the onset of fatigue. “Findings from this research may be able to be applied to diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the military and industry,” Ms Onus said. Research participants should preferably live in the Bathurst area as they will need to be available for five tests over three weeks on the CSU Bathurst Campus. They need to be physically active at least three times per week, and will be required for one session of 90 minutes and four sessions of 2.5 hours each session. People interested in participating should contact Ms Onus on 02 6338 4211. The study will start as soon as volunteers are recruited, briefed on the research and checked for medical clearance. The study will continue until August 2008.

Early results from research with Charles Sturt University (CSU) students living on the Wagga Wagga Campus show that they are more likely to reduce their electricity use as a result of ‘social marketing’ strategies than simply having a meter to tell them how much electricity they are using.  The CSU researchers used social marketing techniques that identified the barriers and benefits to encourage students to use less energy, and then developed ways to overcome the barriers, encouraging students to change the way they use energy in their residences. Students who received the social marketing strategies significantly decreased their electricity use by 15 per cent over seven weeks, while students with access to meters only decreased their use by five per cent. Students exposed to these strategies used significantly less electricity than students that received nothing. The next stage of the research is to see what happens if students receive both social marketing and meters in their residences. “We can go a long way to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by just changing our behaviours,” said CSU’s Dr Penny Davidson. The project is supported by the Public Facilities Program under the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund, in collaboration with NSW energy provider Country Energy and electrical display unit manufacturer Ampy.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre/media graduate, Ms Shien Chee, will return to Bathurst this week in her multiple roles as a Company, Tour and Stage Manager for Gadgets, a theatre production that has toured regional areas around Australia since last February. Ms Chee, who graduated from CSU’s School of Communication in 2000, has since worked in a range of community theatre and theatre-in-education roles. She said she’s delighted that Gadgets, which combines physical theatre, music and technology, will bring her back to Bathurst where she has friends and fond memories of her student days. “My partner, Joel Salom, is the creator and driving force of Gadgets, and we are travelling with our three year old son too, so it's a real family affair.” Gadgets will be staged at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 June.

The annual Scholarships Presentation Ceremony for students at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Orange Campus will be held on Friday 6 June. Two notable scholarship recipients are Ms Claire Walker, an agricultural business management student who will receive the Ian Smith Memorial Scholarship, and Mr Joshua Adamson, a clinical sciences student who is receiving the inaugural Rotary Club of Orange Scholarship. This new scholarship is awarded to encourage local students to return to the NSW Central West to practice in the field of dentistry. Official guests at the presentation are CSU’s Deputy Chancellor, Ms Kathryn Pitkin, Chair of CSU Pharmacy Foundation, Mr Dick Marris, Head of Orange Campus, Professor Kevin Parton, and all scholarship donors. The scholars’ vote of thanks will be delivered by Mr William Hunt, a first year student enrolled in clinical sciences, who will receive one of the 2008 GP Logic Foundation Scholarships.

About 1 200 Year 12 students from across central western NSW will converge on the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bathurst Campus on Thursday 29 May to learn about further educational opportunities and future careers. The NSW Central West Careers Advisers Association will holds its annual FACTS (Facts About Careers and Tertiary Study) Day for the high school students, who will come from centres including Bathurst, Lithgow, Kandos, Blayney, Cowra, Orange and Molong. The event, starting at 10am, will provide the opportunity for Year 12 students to access higher educational providers. “The FACTS Day at CSU provides regional students with an experience of the University,” said CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Fran Dwyer. FACTS Day is organised by the Central West Careers Advisers Association.

The annual Scholarships Presentation Ceremony for students on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Bathurst Campus will be held on Friday 30 May. Two notable scholarship recipients are Mr Darren Denmead, a third year student in early childhood education, and Ms Imogen Kelly, a fourth year student undertaking the double degree in advertising and marketing. Mr Denmead and Ms Kelly have both received three scholarships during their study. Official guests at the presentation are CSU’s Deputy Chancellor, Ms Kathryn Pitkin, Federal Minister for Internal Affairs and MP for Macquarie, the Hon. Bob Debus, and NSW MP for Bathurst, Mr Gerard Martin, the Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council, Councillor Paul Toole, and acting Head of Bathurst Campus, Professor Denise Jarratt. The scholar’s vote of thanks will be delivered by Ms Pamela Rudge, a third year student enrolled in public relations and business, who received scholarships in 2006 and 2007 and will receive the 2008 Bathurst Regional Council scholarship.  

The emerging and serious health problem, chronic kidney disease, will be examined during a public lecture in Tumut on Wednesday 28 May. The lecture coincides with the national Kidney Health Week 2008 being held from Saturday 24 May to Saturday 31 May. Associate Professor Ann Bonner from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing and Midwifery in Wagga Wagga, will explain chronic kidney disease, its risk factors, optimal healthcare requirements and its impact on individuals, society and the Australian healthcare system. Associate Professor Bonner has practised for more than 20 years as a renal nurse and has developed postgraduate renal nursing courses for universities in NSW and Queensland. Dr Bonner is also involved in collaborative research projects with renal health care clinicians in these states. The lecture, presented by CSU and the Tumut Shire Council, will be held from 6pm in the Montreal Community Theatre, 44-46 Russell St, Tumut. CSU wine and cheese will be served after the lecture.