The Head of Campus at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga, Ms Miriam Dayhew will be among the city's business and community leaders sleeping rough this Saturday 21 June in the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber Sleepout WW. The money raised during the event from 5 pm at the Kyeamba Smith Hall will go to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society's Edel Quinn Shelter as well as contestants in the 2015 Miss Wagga Wagga Quest. With the forecast for showers and a low of 4 degree Celsius, Ms Dayhew said, "I welcome any sponsorship from within Charles Sturt University as well as from the wider community. The money I raise for homelessness and other local charities will help ease the discomfort of a single night sleeping rough."  To sponsor Ms Dayhew's sleepout, please send an email here or pledge money through the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber site here.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student will represent young Australians at the United Nations (UN) Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, from Friday 20 to Monday 30 June, as part of the national Global Voices project. Mr Matthew Lincoln, 26, who is studying for an environmental science degree at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, is particularly interested in the protection of native forests to conserve biodiversity and help mitigate climate change. While in Kenya, he will visit several UN institutions where he will attend the inaugural UN Environment Assembly, which will be addressed by UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon. Key issues for the assembly include the formulation of sustainable development goals, the illegal trade in wildlife, financing a 'green economy', and the importance of the rule of environmental rule. Mr Lincoln will also attend a civil society forum, with a range of global stakeholders, and visit non-government organisations. During the trip, he aims to learn more about global environmental and sustainability issues and how international policy is conducted on the world stage. Mr Lincoln's trip is supported by CSU Global.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) pharmacy student has had a strong start to his four year degree after securing a prestigious Rural Pharmacy Scholarship from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. First year Bachelor of Pharmacy student Mr Lindsay Minehan is one of 40 students from across Australia recently named by the Guild as a recipient of the scholarship. Mr Minehan from Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast will receive $10 000 each year for up to four years of his degree to help cover the costs associated with studying away from home. As part of the Scholarship Scheme, the CSU student will also participate in a mentor program. The Bachelor of Pharmacy is offered by CSU through its School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Orange and Wagga Wagga. Read more about the Guild's Rural Pharmacy Scholarship here.

New residences for postgraduate students with families and for short-term visitors were recently completed at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga. Residence Life Coordinator, Mr Kurt Neville, said the rooms were primarily built to accommodate postgraduate students, students from other campuses undertaking work placement in Albury, CSU students completing residential schools, travelling CSU staff members and visiting academics. "The collaborative effort between Health Workforce Australia and Residence Life has meant that Charles Sturt University can meet the growing need for short-term accommodation on our campus in Albury-Wodonga," Mr Neville said. The new buildings will be open for CSU staff and students to inspect on Thursday 19 June between noon to 2pm, next to the Learning Commons on CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Riverina grain growers will be confronted by old and new challenges in 2014, and local Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Southern Regional Panel deputy chair, Associate Professor Chris Blanchard from Charles Sturt University (CSU), wants to ensure the region's cropping issues are being addressed. The GRDC Southern Regional Panel identifies cropping constraints and opportunities and directs research priorities to benefit grain growers. With seven years on the panel, Professor Blanchard is with the University's School of Biomedical Sciences and is Director of the new Australian Research Council Training Centre for Functional Grains at CSU in Wagga Wagga He said he wants to address known issues hampering productivity and profitability in the area, and shed light on emerging problems. "My involvement with the GRDC Southern Regional Panel is an opportunity for me to have an input into the direction of research in Australia," he said. As part of his role in identifying potential issues for GRDC attention, Riverina grain growers are encouraged to contact Professor Blanchard directly to discuss  current cropping issues on mobile 0438 662 992, or by email. See more about Associate Professor Blanchard here.

New quality assurance standards for grapevine planting material in Australia are now in place and a workshop being hosted by the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre in November aims to help the propagation industry meet the grade. The Growing to the standard workshop will present Australian and international research in grapevine trunk diseases, viruses, bio-security and propagation. Workshop organiser and Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD researcher Ms Helen Waite said the workshop will put together the latest research to help growers, nurseries and Vine Improvement Associations."The new Australian Standard for Grapevine Material forms the basis of quality assurance for cuttings and nursery vines in Australia but it's relevant to vine propagators everywhere," she said. "Unhealthy vines are less productive, they produce poorer quality fruit, they're harder to manage and therefore they cost a lot more money so it can sometimes threaten the sustainability of a vineyard." See a full list of speakers here. The workshop will follow the 9th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases being held on Friday 2 November at the SARDI Plant Research Centre in South Australia.Register online or contact Ms Waite by email or on 0419 522 875.

Representatives of Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie and the Hastings Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday 18 June. The MoU represents a shared commitment to achieve equitable access and successful education and training outcomes for Indigenous students. It provides a framework founded upon the principles of mutual respect and empowerment, and embodies the values, commitments and recommendations of CSU's Reconciliation Statement and Indigenous Education Strategy. Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, Emeritus Professor Ross Chambers, said, "The Hastings AECG has been very successful in promoting an integrated and cooperative approach to Indigenous education among education providers at all levels, and in engaging the community with education providers. The MoU is intended to strengthen CSU's cooperation with the AECG and will result in strong communication with and advice from the community on needs and priorities to inform CSU's Indigenous Education Strategy at Port Macquarie." The MoU will be signed at 6pm Wednesday 18 June at suite 2, 27 Grant Street, Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie.

Senior high school students from across southern NSW will present their Higher School Certificate (HSC) work aloud at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 18 June. Year 12 students enrolled in the English Extension 2 course give a six minute selection from their Major Work being composed for the NSW HSC, allowing them some valuable practice before their final presentation. Event coordinator and lecturer at CSU's School of Education, Mr Paul Grover, said that teachers and parents will join judges in presenting written reports on the presentations so students can get valuable feedback on their work. "This is a wonderful opportunity for these talented English students to showcase their Major Work in the final writing and revision stage before their work is sent to the NSW Board of Studies for examination and assessment," Mr Grover said. The event runs from 5.30pm to 7.30pm Wednesday 18 June in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre (Building 751), CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Representatives of the NSW Department of Education and Communities will meet with Charles Sturt University (CSU) students on Wednesday 18 June at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. The students, in their final year of early childhood, primary and secondary education degrees, will be presented opportunities for employment in NSW government schools, as well as scholarships for further study. CSU professional experience coordinator, Mr Chris Woods, said the visit offered an important opportunity for prospective teachers in secondary and primary schools to gain first-hand employment information. The visit is from 1pm to 2pm in the CD Blake Auditorium (building 751), CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.