New business ideas to create new products and ideas for the agricultural sector will be ‘pitched’ to an audience on Monday 26 March at the AgriTech Incubator at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.Eight emerging entrepreneurs from the Riverina have been developing their ideas for the past eight weeks through the AgriTech Incubator program.They’ve been working on business concepts ranging from the development of apps and software platforms to support agricultural producers and suppliers, to developing new food products to diversify farming income, a financial support service, and new methods for enhancing travellers’ health.AgriTech Incubator project leader Professor John Mawson said “The AgriTech Incubator program offers a great opportunity for start-up founders to test and refine their business concepts in a supportive collaborative environment.“Participants from our first cohort in 2017 continue to develop novel products and services, and we look forward to growth of this second students to emerge from our program.”The AgriTech Incubator is funded by the NSW Department of Industry with significant additional funding from CSU. The AgriTech Incubator is also available to be used as a co-working, event and meeting space. Further details are available by emailing agritechincubator@csu.edu.au.The AgriTech Incubator Pitch Night will be held from 7pm to 9pm on Monday 26 March in building 6 near car park 11, Tooma Way, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Seeking to assist people with restricted movement has led to a significant renovation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga.A specially designed lift has been fitted in the five-storey Gordon Beavan Building at the Thurgoona site to improve access throughout the building for people of all abilities.Built in the 1980s, the building’s previous lift could only stop at the first, third and fifth floors.“The new lift now services all floors, and allows people with restricted movement, including wheelchair access, to all parts of the building,” said Mr Stephen Butt, Executive Director of the CSU Division of Facilities Management.“Providing compliant and appropriate access for staff and students to all buildings is a priority for Charles Sturt University. This project is part of our ongoing improvement program across the University.”The new lift and other modifications including an exercise room will be officially launched by Dr Jennifer Munday, Head of Campus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, starting at 10am on Friday 23 March in the Gordon Beavan Building, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ellis Street, Thurgoona.The formal launch will be followed by a morning tea.

Are you aged 60 years or over and looking to maintain or improve your brain power or physical strength?Academics from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga are looking for participants in their ‘Ageing Well’ program which aims to enhance older people’s physical and cognitive abilities.Participants will have access to allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, podiatrists and physiotherapists, who will support and supervise CSU students to deliver the weekly program.Project coordinator and occupational therapist Dr Melissa Nott said, “Healthy ageing is more than increasing the number of life-years without disability. It’s about creating an opportunity for older people to actively participate in the everyday functional tasks that give their life meaning and value.“We know that keeping active later in life brings incredible benefits for older people, in mental and physical wellbeing.”Dr Nott, from the CSU School of Community Health, believes that working in community groups also enhances social connection and reduces feeling of isolation for older people.“This project provides an opportunity for Charles Sturt University students to work in partnership with older people to assist them while gaining skills for their future careers as health professionals in regional areas.“We are also keen for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50 years to take part in the program.”Participants will sign up for a one-hour session each Thursday for 10 weeks. The sessions will involve individual and group activities from Thursday 19 April 2018.The program will be held in the Community Engagement and Wellness (CEW) Centre, Ellis Street, at CSU’s Thurgoona site.For more information and to sign up for the program, contact Dr Nott on (02) 6051 9246 or send an email to ageingwell@csu.edu.au

Students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will receive information and opportunities for health assessments at the CSU 2018 Wellness and Wellbeing Expo on Tuesday 20 March.The CSU Wellness and Wellbeing Expos are being staged at the seven main CSU campuses during March, and more than 2 500 CSU staff and students are expected to benefit from the information and health checks provided.Expo coordinators in the CSU Division of Human Resources, Ms Lisa Tuineau and Ms Melissa Lombe, 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 effects on work performance, work satisfaction, study, health, and feelings of wellbeing, and is therefore running Wellness and Wellbeing Expos on its major campuses.“The Expos will give attendees the opportunity to obtain information on numerous health and wellbeing services available to them at the University and in our local communities. The University hopes that staff and students will not just become more aware of the services available and will encourage them to engage with these services and programs.“Through happier, healthier and more satisfied staff and students the University hopes to foster a productive and resilient environment.”The 2018 CSU Wellness and Wellbeing Expo will be held at CSU in Orange on Tuesday 20 March. Services at the expo include hearing checks, free massages, and pre-winter flu vaccinations.The health and wellbeing of staff and students at CSU has received a boost with sponsorship from the NSW Trustee and Guardian, iCare, Gallaghers, Employers Mutual, G&C Mutual Bank, UniSuper, and nlc.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) co-hosts the annual Science and Engineering Challenge in Bathurst and Orange next week for more than 300 Year 9 and 10 students from 11 schools across the region.The students will battle it out for a place at the State Super Challenge by building bridges, wiring cities, creating Mars rovers, constructing earthquake-proof towers, and building a bionic hand.CSU Professor of Engineering Euan Lindsay said the CSU Engineering program was inspired to sponsor the Challenge in Bathurst and Orange, as well as Wagga and Young, to ensure the experience was more accessible to regional students.“We take every opportunity to showcase the impact that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professionals have on everyone’s life, from the design of buildings, through to the system that stores and delivers clean water to a community,” Professor Lindsay said.“Over the next five years, employment is predicted to increase in technical services, professional, and scientific careers by 14 per cent. With STEM graduates in Australia making up only 18 per cent of the entire graduate cohort, the Science and Engineering Challenge inspires students to work in STEM careers. It does this by providing a STEM experience that is very different to their school classroom.”The Science and Engineering Challenge encourages students to explore scientific principles for themselves rather than being guided to a pre-determined answer. The Challenge further aims to encourage students in Year 10 to consider a future career in science and engineering by choosing to study the enabling sciences and mathematics in Years 11 and 12.The Science and Engineering Challenge is presented by The University of Newcastle in cooperation with Charles Sturt University and local Rotary and Lions Clubs.The Science and Engineering Challenge at CSU in Bathurst will be hosted at the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220, the Gym) on Wednesday 21 March. The Challenge in Orange will be hosted by James Sheahan High School on Friday 23 March.

The drums of harmony will beat at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga next Tuesday 20 March to celebrate national Harmony Day.Pupils from Wodonga Primary School will demonstrate their Japanese Taiko drumming skills as part of the celebrations, which will be held between 11.30am and 1pm.Taiko is a very active and dramatic form of drumming developed in Japan from the 6th century.Other activities for CSU students to help celebrate Harmony Day include games, crafts and a competition with flags from around the world.“We want to spread the Harmony Day message that ‘everyone belongs’,” said CSU event coordinator and student liaison officer, Mr Lee Elliott.“With almost half of Australians born overseas or having a parent who was, we want to show our students that diversity is what brings us together as a community, including here in Albury-Wodonga.”Harmony Day activities will be held in and around the Gums Café at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will receive information and opportunities for health assessments at the CSU 2018 Wellness and Wellbeing Expo on Monday 19 March.The CSU Wellness and Wellbeing Expos are being staged at the seven main CSU campuses during March, and more than 2 500 CSU staff and students are expected to benefit from the information and health checks provided.Expo coordinators in the CSU Division of Human Resources, Ms Lisa Tuineau and Ms Melissa Lombe, 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 effects on work performance, work satisfaction, study, health, and feelings of wellbeing, and is therefore running Wellness and Wellbeing Expos on its major campuses.“The Expos will give attendees the opportunity to obtain information on numerous health and wellbeing services available to them at the University and in our local communities. The University hopes that staff and students will not just become more aware of the services available and will encourage them to engage with these services and programs.“Through happier, healthier and more satisfied staff and students the University hopes to foster a productive and resilient environment.”The 2018 CSU Wellness and Wellbeing Expo will be held at CSU in Dubbo on Monday 19 March. Services at the expo include hearing checks, free massages, and pre-winter flu vaccinations.The health and wellbeing of staff and students at CSU has received a boost with sponsorship from the NSW Trustee and Guardian, iCare, Gallaghers, Employers Mutual, G&C Mutual Bank, UniSuper, and nlc.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council, with the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, will present Music Under the Leaves at the Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens on Friday 23 March.Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew (pictured) said, “Collaboration between Wagga Wagga City Council and Charles Sturt University allows Music Under the Leaves to showcase local talent and performers of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.“Music Under the Leaves is a free music recital performed at sunset by musicians of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. They will perform a beautiful and eclectic concert including pieces such as Romanian folk song, a Baroque trio sonata, and by a Renaissance trio.“A free event like this allows the community to be exposed to local musical talent. It will appeal to anyone interested in music, arts, and culture, as well as local groups and high schools, primary schools, and the Eastern Riverina arts organisations.”Music Under the Leaves is a free event to be held at the Bamboo Gardens, Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens, MacLeay Street, from 6pm on Friday 23 March. Light refreshments will be provided.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics are joining forces with a local high school student to restage the play Norm and Ahmed in performances at the skate park in Wagga Wagga this week.First performed 50 years ago, Norm and Ahmed by celebrated Australian playwright Alex Buzo deals with issues of identity, the fear of the unknown, and Australia’s suppressed xenophobia. CSU lecturer in acting for stage and screen Dr Dominique Sweeney and Wagga Wagga High School student Abu Kebe will perform the play from 7pm from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 March at the skate park in Bolton Street in Wagga Wagga.Directing the play is Dr Robert Lewis, also a CSU lecturer in acting for screen and stage.The play is set late one night on a deserted street where Norm, a working class Anglo-Australian, stops a young international student, Ahmed. Norm asks for a light, strikes up a conversation and what evolves is an encounter that ends in a shocking and confronting way.Tickets for the 60-minute play cost $17 for adults and $12 for concessions. Tickets can be booked www.civictheatre.com.au/whatson/norm-and-ahmed or at the venue.The site-specific performance is produced by Persona Collective, an ensemble of experimental theatre artists. Norm and Ahmed builds upon the company's exploration in site-specific performances such as Two Houses (Iteration: Again (2011), Patricia Cornelius’s Savages (Junction Arts Festival (2014), and Residue (2016). Norm and Ahmed is site-specific and promenade style, which means that there is no seating and audiences are required to walk and stand with the actors to various parts of the skate park. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear, as this is an outdoor performance. Audience members may bring their own deck chairs if they wish to sit throughout the performance.