An international early childcare researcher will discuss the German experience of the commercialisation of the early childcare sector during a forum at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga at the School of Education on Wednesday 23 July. Professor Johanna Mierendorff, from Martin Luther University in Halle, Germany, investigated the entry of commercial interests in 2005 into the care of children aged 0 to 6 years, where traditionally the sector was dominated by small not-for-profit organisations. With the broader public concerned with possible detrimental effects on access to and quality of commercial services, Professor Mierendorff interviewed parents and commercial centre managers to find out how they coped with these concerns. The results suggest that the traditional German ideas of equality of opportunities in early childhood are challenged by the change in the provision of child care. In addition, the changed child care sector has provided new ways to understand parenthood and social equality and inequality in the country.

The award-winning author of a book about asylum seekers and people smugglers will deliver a free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 30 July. Sydney writer, filmmaker, producer and director Ms Robin de Crespigny will talk about The People Smuggler, her first book, which has won the 25th Human Rights Award for Literature, the Queensland Literary Award, and the Ned Kelly Award for True Crime. Ms de Crespigny is also a former lecturer in directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. The public lecture by is hosted by Dr Alison Gerard and Dr Suzie Gibson, lecturers at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in association with the CSU Explorations Series public lectures, Rural Australians for Asylum Seekers (Bathurst), and BooksPlus. Dr Gerard said, "This public lecture is part of the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences commitment to foster dialogue and debate on social justice issues relevant to our region. We hear a lot about border protection but very little about the actual people who make this dangerous journey to Australia seeking refuge from conflict in their countries of origin. The People Smuggler captures that human account and brings to life the story of Iraqi man, Ali Al Jenabi, and has received wide acclaim. Robin de Crespigny's public lecture will inform and challenge the community." The public lecture is at 6.30pm Wednesday 30 July in room 223, building 1292, at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. Please RSVP to Ms Kate Esdaile on (02) 6338 4645 or kesdaile@csu.edu.au

Are you concerned about diabetes and your heart's health? Are you over 40 years old and in good or poor health? As part of National Diabetes Week that started on 13 July, Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers will offer free screening tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and heart health to people with or without diabetes. "People from southern NSW and North East Victoria can attend the screening clinic at CSU in Albury-Wodonga to help us better understand the prevalence of diabetes in regional Australia, which we already know is higher than for all Australia," said senior diabetes researcher Dr Herbert Jelinek from the School of Community Health.  To book an appointment for a diabetes screening test or for more information, contact research assistant Ms Bev DeJong on (02) 6051 9210. People unable to attend the clinic at Thurgoona can also discuss this with Ms DeJong for alternative locations.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has launched a new grants program aimed at forming strong, relevant and collaborative partnerships with its communities. Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie,  Emeritus Professor Ross Chambers, said the Community-University Partnership (CUP) program complemented the University's mission is to advance higher education opportunities and research that meet the particular needs and aspirations of regional communities. "The CUP program is a very welcome resource to support Charles Sturt University's engagement with its communities and I am sure that the program will be enthusiastically supported on the Mid-North Coast," Professor Chambers said. "The program demonstrates the wide range of ways in which a university in a regional setting is able to work with and add value to its community." The CUP program offers grants in several categories: Rural and Regional Schools Development, Rural and Regional Arts and Culture, Rural and Regional Sports Development, 'Healthy, Active, Sporting Regions', Rural and Regional Community Integrated Research Grants, and Rural and Regional Indigenous Community Engagement. The program is open to not-for-profit community organisations such as sporting and cultural bodies, schools, health and social service organisations, faith-based organisations and local councils. More information is available from the University's Community Portal.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will help Year 12 students across southern NSW and North-East Victoria connect with tertiary education providers at an information day in Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 18 June. CSU will coordinate around 45 tertiary providers from the ACT, NSW, and Victoria at the Albury-Wodonga Information Day, sponsored by Albury City Council. The event is hosted by the Albury-Wodonga Careers Advisers' Association, with around 1 000 students from local high schools and colleges expected to attend the event. The Information Day will be held from 9am to 12noon on Wednesday 18 June at the Albury Entertainment Centre, Swift Street, Albury. CSU also took part in associated tertiary education events run by the Victorian Tertiary Information Service in Shepparton, Benalla and Wangaratta on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June.

The 2014 class of veterinary science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will mark the transition from university to professional life on Saturday 19 July. The 55 students will be welcomed to the profession in front of family, friends and staff from CSU's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.  'We are constantly amazed at the versatility and skills of our students. It is very pleasing to receive feedback from our local and international partners on how well this cohort of students has performed, especially in clinical situations, and to have confidence that they will take that into their professional life,"  said Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Professor Nick Sangster. Students will be led in the Veterinarian's Oath to practice their profession 'ethically and conscientiously' by CSU senior lecturer in Small Animal Medicine and representative of the Australian Veterinary Association Dr Geoff Gibbons. Several scholarships and prizes will be presented at the dinner including the $3 000 VetPrac Aesculap Academy Prize. Students will be awarded their degrees in a formal graduation ceremony at CSU in December.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Rugby Club in Bathurst has raised and donated $7 300 to the local youth mental health organisation 'headspace'. Following the death of a club member in 2012, the club executive decided they would stage a combined 'Charity and Old Boys Day', which included an auction, and donate the funds to 'headspace'. President of CSU Rugby, Mr Charlie Newton, said, "I am just extremely proud of the club for the money we raised. The amount donated shows the importance headspace has for the students, and the willingness we have to help keep such a great organisation running." Headspace personnel subsequently suggested that they conduct mental health training for CSU sporting club members. The CSU Rugby Club executive asked that the free training not be limited to sporting clubs but be open to all CSU clubs in Bathurst and also local community clubs. The training is to be held over four weeks (3.5 hours per session) commencing on Tuesday 5 August. CSU Rugby will hold another charity day on Saturday 16 August, with a game against the Bathurst Bulldogs, to raise money for headspace.

Two award winning plays will be presented by Bathurst Arts and Theatrical Society (BATS) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 July. The plays, The Eisteddfod and Plaza Suite, are directed and performed by CSU students from the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. The Eisteddfod directed by Ms Brooke Murray, is a comic suburban tragedy about family, loss and letting go, which won the Excellence in Direction and Producers' Choice awards at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival. Plaza Suite directed by Ms Eve Beck, follows the journey of three couples who occupy suite 719 in the Plaza Suite Hotel at different times of the same day. It was adapted into a film in 1971. Ms Beck, said, "Directing is a challenge, but it's one that fuels curiosity, interest and creativity. There is nothing quite like having a clear vision of a show that you wish could become a reality, to then see it unfold and form in front of you." BATS productions of The Eisteddfod, and Plaza Suite are at The Ponton Theatre (building 1434; formerly N3) Charles Sturt University in Bathurst at 7pm on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 July with a matinee at 2pm Saturday 19 July. Tickets are to be booked from Ben Musgrave by calling 0423 900 086; limited tickets will be available at the performances.

The people of Warren and Nyngan can help develop a better way of accounting for the social impacts of new projects or natural disasters through research being undertaken at Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Institute for Land, Water and Society.  PhD candidate Ms Jenni Greig is seeking participants to complete a survey that aims to gather simple information to assess whether we can anticipate how major changes affect a community. "I hope this study can help develop future government policies, particularly those that affect rural and regional Australians," Ms Greig said. "We can anticipate how major changes will affect the local environment or local economy, but decisions are often made with little information on what is really important to people, and how their lives might be affected. Not everyone will be affected in the same way by a major change, so it is important to get a whole picture of various opinions in a community." Ms Grieg and two CSU researchers will be in Warren and Nyngan from Tuesday 1 July until Monday 7 July, going door-to-door to distribute the survey to residents. "Through this survey, you can make a difference to the way changes in regional communities around Australia are viewed by decision makers," Ms Grieg said.