Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will soon return to the Campus towns of Albury, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst, and some will be seeking off campus accommodation, according to CSU Student Services Officer Jane Battersby. “We have VTAC and UAC rounds coming out next week, so the student demand will soon be there. We have a database of off-campus accommodation providers, from vacant rental to shared rental and board.” Colleen Poy says providing accommodation to CSU students can be very rewarding. “I started off with one house, then two and now I have five houses. I really missed my children when they left home. There’s nothing like being around young people, they never lose their enthusiasm. Every morning is a whole new day and they are up and at it. I think it’s wonderful.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is set to play an increasingly important role in easing the chronic lack of registered nurses in rural Australia.   Sixty enrolled nurses (ENs) will attend residential schools on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus over the next two weeks to begin study in the Bachelor of Nursing by distance education course.   The program is part of a partnership between CSU, the Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and Victoria’s Hume Health.   Those sixty nurses will be officially welcomed at 10am tomorrow, Tuesday 6 February, by Head of CSU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Elaine Duffy and the GSAHS Area Director of Nursing, Ms Moira Lewis in the Wal Fife theatre, Wagga Wagga Campus.   Nursing course coordinator Heather Latham says “This is a significant partnership and initiative to address the shortage of registered nurses in rural Australia”.

She is “first rate” and he is “just brilliant”, according to the mutual admiration society of Professor Alan Fish, Head of the International School of Business at Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Dr Julie Cogin, Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour at the Australian Graduate School of Management. They recently took out the Australia New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Best Paper in a Stream Award at the latest ANZAM Conference held in Rockhampton, Queensland. Professor Fish supervised Dr Cogin’s PhD on the environmental factors that cause sexual harassment. “The award is a reflection of the quality of her work,” he said. Dr Cogin said Professor Fish is an excellent role model and teacher. “He is so encouraging. There were a lot of obstacles and challenges, but Alan kept reminding me that success was not the destination, it was the journey. Once we had access to data, it all came together very, very quickly.”

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor Warren Somerville has been recognised in the 2007 Australia Day honours for his life-long fascination with collecting rocks, minerals and fossils. He was made a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to natural history and the community. “I was very surprized at this unexpected award, but I feel it is recognition of the valuable contribution that the collection makes to education generally and the Bathurst community in particular,” Professor Somerville said. In 2000 Professor Somerville donated what is now known as The Somerville Collection, which is valued between $6 million to $12 million, to the Australian Mineral and Fossil Museum in Bathurst.

Late last month, the Seven Network confirmed the signing of its US Bureau Chief, Anna Coren, to host the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane editions of Today Tonight, Seven’s flagship prime time current affairs program. Ms Coren is yet another CSU alumnus to appear on national daily television. Breakfast TV rivals Melissa Doyle (Sunrise) and Jessica Rowe (Today) are also graduates of CSU’s Communication degree, as is Chris Bath, who presents Seven Late News Updates. Acting Head of the School of Communication, Bill Blaikie said, “The high profile of CSU’s Communication graduates is testimony to the quality of the people and the learning drawn to these degrees.  For every highly visible graduate there are at least another 100 working just as successfully in their chosen field.  Congratulations to every one of them”.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate is already leaving her hallmark on the exclusive world of jewellery design and creation. Sarah Lugton, who recently completed her Bachelor of Arts in Jewellery at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, is one of three young Australian’s awarded the inaugural Kaiserman Prize in Melbourne for her “spatial themed” silver rings and bangle. Her prize includes studio space, materials, tools and on-going mentoring from Kaiserman’s expert jewellers in Melbourne. Sarah says she is, “Grateful at the recognition of my work and honoured and privileged to be one of the three winners.” Founder of the Prize Mr Simon Kaiserman complimented Sarah, saying her work was outstanding, “Both technically and artistically. The pieces reflect perfectly the artist’s statement which is an achievement in itself,” he said.

A new online resource for early childhood teachers in rural and remote areas will be presented to the Mayor of Dubbo, Councillor Mathew Dickerson, this Thursday 8 December. Known as teacher-ec, the resource was recently launched as part of the Early Childhood Education Workforce Capacity Project (ECEWC). Teacher-ec kits aim to make a valuable contribution to the education of new teachers. Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer, Dr Alison Lord, managed the ECEWC project that developed these online resources in line with the federal government’s commitment to ensure every child in Australia has access to quality childcare. “The response to the kits has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Dr Lord. “The kits have given regional and remote educators additional tools to support their continued studies while we have also had several enquiries from metropolitan areas who are interested in using the resources.”  

“It’s like Shane Warne giving spin bowling master classes to Canadian cricket players,” said Dr Ashley Wain, lecturer in the Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) about the forthcoming visit by theatre director Leonid Verzub. Mr Verzub will work with VPA students on the Australian premiere of Stars in the Morning Sky, a play made famous by the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia. “They are considered the greatest acting ensemble in the world. Leonid and [Maly director] Lev Dodin were classmates and are two of the major figures in world theatre. Both studied under Maria Knebel, who was an assistant to Konstantin Stanislavski and a friend and collaborator with Mikhail Chekhov, Anton Chekhov’s nephew.” Dr Wain said the visit will not only greatly benefit CSU’s VPA students, but anyone who would like to come along and observe the rehearsals. “Leonid’s mastery of the Stanislavski technique is unique in Australia.”

Ever wonder where those fabulous hat creations that adorn the heads of fashion leaders and socialites come from? Some of the world’s best known milliners gather at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Convention Centre, Wagga Wagga this weekend for the 2007 International Millinery Forum ‘Brimming With Success’. Hosted by the CSU’s Community Education Unit, over 130 milliners from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, Africa and America will attend. They will display their stunning collection of hats and share valuable millinery skills and knowledge during a series of workshops. The forum begins on Saturday 3 February 2007 and concludes on Thursday February 8 2007. CSU Community Education Manager Larry Buete says, “The forum has gained international attention with many delegates and tutors attending from all parts of the globe and across the nation". Buete says, “the ripple effect of this forum will be felt in the fashion industry and across the nation for the next 12 months".