The health of Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students will be the focus of the 2015 Wellness and Wellbeing Expos to be held at six campuses during March. These Expos give staff and students the opportunity to obtain information about the many health and wellbeing services available to them at CSU and in local communities, as well as attend workshop sessions to actively participate in. Mr Adam Browne, Executive Director of the CSU Division of Human Resources, said, "Charles Sturt University recognises and values the importance of staff and student wellness and wellbeing, and aims to adopt a holistic approach to the treatment of workplace health and safety. The University appreciates that problems of a personal nature can and do have adverse affects on work performance, work satisfaction, study, health and feelings of wellbeing. We run the Wellness and Wellbeing Expos on six of the University's campuses to foster a productive and resilient environment by supporting happier, healthier and more satisfied staff and students." The CSU 2015 Wellness and Wellbeing Expos are sponsored by G&C Mutual Bank, and UniSuper.The schedule for the CSU 2015 Wellness and Wellbeing Expos is:CSU in Goulburn - Thursday 12 MarchCSU in Albury-Wodonga - Monday 16 MarchCSU in Wagga Wagga - Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 MarchCSU in Dubbo - Monday 23 MarchCSU in Orange - Tuesday 24 MarchCSU in Bathurst - Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March

Students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie have won the 2014 inter-campus blood donation challenge set by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. On a 'per head' basis relative to the size of all CSU campuses, the staff and students at CSU in Port Macquarie made more blood donations during 2014 than the other CSU campuses. To celebrate this achievement, Mr Greg French from the Red Cross presented a plaque to CSU's student Red Cross Ambassador Ms Ashleigh Barker at a celebratory luncheon at 12:30pm Wednesday 4 March at the campus in Port Macquarie. Ms Barker said, "I am really impressed that the students and staff at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie have been able to make such a large number of blood donations in 2014. It is even more impressive that we have beaten larger more established CSU campuses in the Red Cross Blood Donation Challenge. I thank all the students and staff here. We aim to increase the number of donations in 2015 and hope to win the challenge for a second time." Mr French also used this opportunity to promote the commencement of the 2015 Red Cross Inter-campus Challenge at CSU.

Two Riverina artists have embraced the theme of International Women's Day 'Make it Happen' by curating a new exhibition at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. Lecturer from the School of Communication and Creative Industries, Ms Julie Montgarrett and creative producer from The Cad Factory Ms Sarah McEwan are curators of the exhibition, RE//ASSEMBLING in the University's HR Gallop Gallery. Marking the 40th anniversary of International Women's Day, the exhibition will feature 21 female artists from the eastern and western Riverina. RE//ASSEMBLING will showcase weaving, installation, video, photography, painting, sculpture and printmaking. An official opening will be held from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday 8 March with women's health advocate Ms Jan Roberts OAM, the guest speaker. The exhibition runs from Friday 6 to Wednesday 25 March. The HR Gallop Gallery is part of the University's School of Communication and Creative Industries, building 21, Darnell Smith Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga. It is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and on week-ends by appointment.

The 2015 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Exploration Series public lectures begin in Bathurst on Wednesday 18 March with a discussion about how leading Australian technology thwarts international counterfeiting. The free public lecture, 'Australian technology fights international counterfeiters', will be delivered by Mr Christopher Stott, a foundation director of DataDot Technology from its inception in 1999 until 2010. DataDot Technology is listed the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and was established to counter professional car theft with a microdot product called 'DataDot'. DataDots have become synonymous with best practice theft prevention in the motor industry and are fitted as a standard inclusion by 48 car manufacturers worldwide. In 2005, a joint venture with the CSIRO led to the development of DataTraceDNA®, an innovative and award-winning covert security technology that has positioned Australia as a leader in helping to stem the US$800 billion annual global counterfeit industry. Mr Col Sharp, Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, said, "We hear all the time about large-scale counterfeit, corporate fraud, and organised theft, but not so often about the fight against these crimes, and the place of new technology. This 2015 CSU Explorations Lecture by Mr Chris Stott will provide insights on the topic from someone working at the cutting edge of this fight. I look forward to welcoming Mr Stott to the University, and the many locals we hope will attend his presentation." Please register for this event here. For more information contact Ms Olivia Wyborn, regional relations assistant, on (02) 6338 4645 or owyborn@csu.edu.au. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the public lecture.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) research needs volunteers with and without hamstring injuries in the Albury area. Mr Luke Donnan, lecturer in podiatry at the CSU School of Community Health in Albury-Wodonga, is investigating what causes hamstring injuries and seeks approximately 30 male volunteers aged 18 to 35 who played at least one competitive game of Australian Rules Football (AFL) in the 2014 season. "I need 15 players who injured a hamstring during the 2014 season, as well as players with no injuries," Mr Donnan said. "I am not necessarily after superstars or elite athletes; fit senior or reserve grade players will be more than adequate for my research. Players will undergo 3D motion analysis, assessment of muscle activity, and will be monitored for levels of fatigue." Mr Donnan will gather data from volunteers during March 2015, including evenings and weekends, and is happy to work around individual availability. All the data collection will happen at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, so Border region residents are preferred. Volunteers are assured of a solid fitness session, as part of data collection, in the lead up to the 2015 season. Potential volunteers can contact Mr Donnan on (02) 6051 9258 or email ldonnan@csu.edu.au

Staff from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will provide support to current and prospective students in Griffith NSW from Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 February.Acting manager of CSU Outreach Mr Peter Greening (pictured) said a range of CSU support staff will be in Griffith creating a 'pop-up university' to promote and support students and parents to engage with higher education."Charles Sturt University has had a long association with Griffith and it is important for us to provide support for people in towns and communities in the region," Mr Greening said."Our staff will work with high school students in Years 7 to 10 in a series of fun and interactive workshops that encourage them to see university as an achievable option leading to desirable careers. Staff will also work with senior high school students, discussing the courses that Charles Sturt University has available for them. Two parent and community information sessions will also be held at the TAFE on Monday evening at 6pm, one for parents of senior students, and one for parents of students Years 7 to 10."Current CSU students can make a booking for the group orientation session at 5.30pm Tuesday 23 February at the Griffith TAFE campus. Visit bit.ly/csu-outreach to book. The CSU visit coincides with a CSU art collection exhibition '2006-2016: A Decade of Printmaking' at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery until Sunday 6 March.

Up to 100 new students will commence at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo when Orientation Week starts on Tuesday 24 February. CSU lecturer Dr Patricia Logan will welcome students on behalf of Head of Campus Professor Jeannie Herbert, who will be in Perth as a member of the steering committee for the National Empowerment Committee that reviews initiatives implemented for prevention of youth suicide. "One of the special features of the Charles Sturt University campus in Dubbo is that it is small and it's welcoming, a place where you will quickly meet your fellow students and the staff," Dr Logan said. "Students may arrive here on their own on 'their first day', but they are not walking 'alone'. They are part of an extended community which shares a common goal; that is, to support the realisation of their degree so that both they and the community in which we live benefits." Special guests at the commencement ceremony on Tuesday 24 February include the Mayor of Dubbo, Councillor Mathew Dickerson. Mr Luke Lawrence, President of the Dubbo Student Committee, and Mr Simbarashe Dudzai, O Week coordinator in Dubbo, will also welcome the new students. CSU anticipates approximately 90 to 100 new full-time students on campus for courses in 2015. They will be joined by approximately 189 returning students. The schedule of events includes:Tuesday 24 – 10.30am Market day, followed by the official commencement ceremony at 11am, then a barbeque, information sessions, and at 6.30pm free ten-pin bowling and pizza dinner.Wednesday 25 – 9am School welcomes and information sessions, 12.30pm a SRC barbeque, and from 6.30pm a trivia night with prizes.Thursday 26 – 9am Course symposium day, followed at 7.30pm by a Hawaiian Luau night at the Commercial Hotel.Friday 27 – 11am sports day at multi-purpose centre on campus. More details can be found here.

The largest group of new students to arrive at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie since the campus opened in 2012 will begin their university experience with the 2015 Orientation Week from Monday 23 February. Professor Ross Chambers, Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, said, "We are very pleased to welcome our largest commencing cohort since CSU opened its campus here in 2012. We are attracting wonderful students both from our immediate local region and from the Mid-North Coast and across the ranges. They are enriching the life of the University and making an important contribution to their community by supporting the development of higher education in our region.  We wish them every success." CSU anticipates approximately 254 new full-time students on campus for courses in 2015. These will be joined by approximately 200 returning students, showing the strong growth of the new CSU campus in Port Macquarie. The schedule of events includes:Monday 23 – 9.30am 'Get Hooked Up' (student ID card and wireless connection) at Student Central at Grant Street; 10.30am Official Commencement Ceremony; accommodation information; 12pm 'meet and greet' market day, and welcome barbeque; afternoon info sessions; 6.30pm private movie screening at Majestic Cinema.Tuesday 24 – 3.30pm Beach games, snacks, refreshments at Town Beach.Wednesday 25 – 11am School courses information session, room 115, Grant Street; 12.30pm welcome lunch; 1.30pm courses information sessions continued; 4.30pm twilight hockey and barbeque at Hockey Club.Thursday 26 – 10am Course information sessions continued; 5pm tennis, pool and putt-putt at T's Tennis Court.Friday 27 – 10am Amazing Race at Town Green; 8pm Toga Party at The Macquarie.More details can be found here. A diverse range of courses have been developed at CSU in Port Macquarie, with the most popular including criminal justice, clinical science (paramedic), medical radiation science, education (K-12), psychology, and social work.

Building upon a growing demand for agricultural education at Charles Sturt University (CSU) is the key focus of the new Head of the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Professor Gavin Ash. Deputy Director of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Professor Ash specialises in plant pathology, has a strong research background and a long career in agricultural education. Professor Ash said CSU has more than a thousand agricultural undergraduate students and enrolments in the Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management have steadily increased. "Students are recognising that there are very good opportunities for agricultural scientists in terms of the diversity of jobs and the remuneration," he said. "Agriculture is a power-house in terms of research at Charles Sturt University and with new facilities we have an opportunity to build our profile, not just in southern NSW but overseas in places like South East Asia."  Professor Ash's research has focused on exploring innovative approaches to the management of diseases, weeds, insects, nematodes and molluscs in annual crops such as wheat, rice, canola and perennial crops such as grapevines. Professor Ash replaces Professor John Mawson who will take up a role of Professor of Food Engineering, working with the Faculty of Science on specific projects.