Researchers at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will present their latest studies and the research benefits for industry during the annual symposium on Thursday 22 June in Wagga Wagga. Entitled The Full Circle, the symposium will cover topics such as environmental issues surrounding irrigation and nitrogen management of vineyards; vascular transport in grapevines and the impact of vineyard floor management researchers.  “The communication of our research results to industry is a major and key component of the NWGIC,” said centre Director Professor Geoff Scollary. President of the NSW Wine Industry Association David Lowe will open the 2006 research symposium at 10.30am. The program for The Full Circle can be found here. The NWGIC is an alliance between Charles Sturt University, NSW Department of Primary Industries, the NSW Wine Industry Association and Deakin University.

Central West businesses are lining up to attend a Charles Sturt University (CSU) Debt Collection workshop next week which will save them time and money when it comes to dealing with bad debts. The workshop will offer advice on debt collection options and procedures involved; effective systems to minimise and prevent bad debts in your business and, as a last resort, ,steps in debt collection which involve the court. The course has been developed especially with local businesses in mind by Antony Smith, an Adjunct Lecturer in the Faculty of Commerce at CSU Orange Campus. “I’ve discovered in my time that people in small businesses don’t really understand the debt collection process so they tend to put things off as long as they can, hoping they won’t have to do anything about it,” Mr Smith says. “Debt is made a lot worse by the passage of time so we felt it was important to run a short course on how to manage debt collection.” There are two workshops next week at CSU Orange Campus on Tuesday June 27 and Thursday June 29 from 6pm to 8pm and one on Saturday, July 1 from 9am to 1pm. The cost of the workshop is $80. Places are limited, for more information contact the program coordinator on 02 6365 7813 or go to the CSU Community Education site.  

Central West businesses are lining up to attend a Charles Sturt University (CSU) Debt Collection workshop next week which will save them time and money when it comes to dealing with bad debts. The workshop will offer advice on debt collection options and procedures involved; effective systems to minimise and prevent bad debts in your business and, as a last resort, ,steps in debt collection which involve the court. The course has been developed especially with local businesses in mind by Antony Smith, an Adjunct Lecturer in the Faculty of Commerce at CSU Orange Campus. “I’ve discovered in my time that people in small businesses don’t really understand the debt collection process so they tend to put things off as long as they can, hoping they won’t have to do anything about it,” Mr Smith says. “Debt is made a lot worse by the passage of time so we felt it was important to run a short course on how to manage debt collection.” There are two workshops next week at CSU Orange Campus on Tuesday June 27 and Thursday June 29 from 6pm to 8pm and one on Saturday, July 1 from 9am to 1pm. The cost of the workshop is $80. Places are limited, for more information contact the program coordinator on 02 6365 7813 or go to the CSU Community Education site.  

Can our democratic processes protect our civil liberties and freedom of expression or do we need a Bill of Rights? According to Free Speech Central West (FSCW), Australia is the only western democracy without a Bill of Rights or constitutional recognition of the right to free speech. The organisation is holding a forum at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange Campus this Sunday June 25. Kay Nankervis, a lecturer in CSU’s School of Communication and a member of FSCW says it is imperative that her journalism students be aware of the issue. “They often don’t immediately grasp the importance of their freedom to report: that it is not curbed by whomever they work for or by security laws that prevent them from naming certain activities or information. Like most Australians they can be complacent about our rights of freedom of association and to express an opinion. We assume those rights will always be there, but they can be legislated away.”  Speakers at the forum including constitutional lawyer Professor George Williams, Orange barrister Derek Cassidy QC, former independent State and Federal parliamentarian Ted Mack,and Federal Member for Calare, Peter Andren will debate the statement: In a democracy like Australia there is no need for a bill of rights.

It’s just what the Doctor ordered: Quality partnerships between universities and schools and more innovative practices related to practicum teaching. The recommendations of Dr Gregor Ramsey in his review of teaching education, Quality Matters, are expected to be repeated when the National Review of Teacher Education is released by the Federal Government shortly. Adjunct lecturer in teacher education at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Dr Julie Martello is already putting the recommendations into practice and has built up excellent relationships with schools throughout the Central West, especially in Bathurst. Before her early childhood students start their first school-based practicum, they assist local school teachers in their English literacy classes. “Students say it gives them a better idea of what’s happening in schools and ideas they might use themselves in the classroom,” says Dr  Martello.CSU’s Process drama in the classroom students are also putting their theories to the test. CSU student Kate Marriott who is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Education (Primary) says the trainee teachers use drama to get kids enthused and engaged in the classroom with outstanding results.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will have a strong presence at the first international Growing Regions Conference in Brisbane in July. Professor Margaret Alston, Director of CSU’s Centre for Rural Social Research, is one of the keynote speakers at the conference which will draw together leading contemporary regional policy experiences and research from across the globe. CSU staff member, Steven Gibbs and student Nicole Creaser are among the 15 young people from around Australia who will be sponsored by the Australian Government to attend the conference. Steven Gibbs, a research support officer in CSU’s Spatial Data Analysis Network (SPAN), says his main interest regional policy and development. He is particularly looking forward to the sessions dealing with “issues of population and government services and how policy can improve the well-being of people living in rural areas.” Nicole Creaser is in the fourth year of her Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) course at CSU’s Wagga Wagga campus. Originally from Melbourne, Nicole says she is interested in “everything to do with health in regional and rural Australia".

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor of Theology and Executive Director of the University’s Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Reverend Professor James Haire, was made a member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2006 announced on 12 June. Reverend Professor Haire was awarded a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to religion and the community through the promotion of ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, the Uniting Church in Australia and theological education. Born in Ireland, James Haire studied at Oxford University in UK and was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1972. Since moving to Australia in 1985, Rev. Professor Haire has held numerous positions including current president of the National Council of Churches in Australia (since 2003); president of the National Assembly Uniting Church in Australia (2000-2003); and joint chair of the Uniting and Roman Catholic Church Australian National Dialogue (1992-2004). CSU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ross Chambers praised Professor Haire’s leadership in promoting dialogue between the churches and between Christians, Muslims and Jews. “Reverend Professor Haire’s high quality work in ecumenism and interfaith dialogue is particularly important in Australia at this time in history. Under Professor Haire’s leadership it has become an important focus of teaching and research at CSU,” Professor Chambers said.

Researchers from across Charles Sturt University (CSU) will present their latest studies covering a wide-range of health issues during a two day forum at Wagga Wagga  this week. Many of the University’s lead health researchers will present their work on various topics, including rural health, complementary medicine, mental illness, injury management, nuclear medicine, cardiovascular disease and farmer health and pesticides. The forum entitled Health Research at CSU: A Showcase of Current Strengths and Strategies for Success, will be held at the Convention Centre, CSU, Wagga Wagga from 2pm Wednesday 14 June until 12.30pm Thursday 15 June. “This forum demonstrates the University’s commitment to meeting the needs of our communities and health professionals for high-quality research that addresses their priority health concerns,” said CSU senior research fellow and forum co-organiser Dr Rod Pope. The event has been organised by the University’s Faculty of Health Studies.Click here to see program.      

The issues facing the next generation of television production professionals will be the subject of discussion at an industry summit at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 14 June. The inaugural CSU and TV Summit, entitled The Third Generation – The Next 10 Years, has attracted representatives from the Seven, Nine, Ten and SBS television networks. Delegates from the regional networks Prime Television and Southern Cross Ten are due to attend along with managers from pay TV’s Sky News and Fox Sports, the production house Global Television and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. “Arguably the largest industry summit of its type held outside of metropolitan centres, the summit will examine the needs of the industry in terms of the next generation of television production,” said CSU television production lecturer Patrick Sproule. “The direction of the delivery of television in Australia and the ageing skills base will be under consideration as the University further develops its industry links,” added Mr Sproule. The CSU and TV Summit will be opened by Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Lyn Gorman from 10.15am.