A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research student is seeking volunteers from the Bathurst area to become involved in a physical health and wellbeing study. Mr Cheyne Donges, who is with the School of Human Movement Studies, said that while a number of women have registered for the research, he needs more Bathurst men to participate. “I need non-smoking men aged between 30 to 60 years,” Mr Donges said. “Furthermore, I am looking for people who are not currently or haven’t been exercising more than once per week in the last few months, and they should not be taking any hormone replacement therapy, blood pressure or cholesterol medication. Study participants will receive is a free comprehensive blood test with an explanation of their results, plus an image scan to analyse muscle, bone, fat and other tissues their body. We will also provide an analysis of muscle, strength and cardiorespiratory fitness.” Anyone interested to participate in the research can contact Mr Donges on 6338 4048, or send an email.

Two graduates due to attend this week’s ceremonies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will receive the University’s highest academic honour, the Charles Sturt University Medal, for their outstanding achievements. Mr Aidan Luke, who works for Defence Materiel in Canberra, will receive the medal when he graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with Honours Class 1 from 10.30am on Thursday 2 April. Mr Benjamin Lloyd from Wagga Wagga will be joined by his parents when he receives the medal for his Bachelor of Information Technology with distinction. He will also graduate from 10.30am on 2 April. Mr Lloyd is continuing his studies at CSU in 2009 by completing an Honours year. Almost 2 000 graduates are eligible to receive their awards from the CSU Faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Science during six ceremonies, on Wednesday 1, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 April at Wagga Wagga. Read more here.  

Recognising the urgent need for adequate Aboriginal oral health in western NSW, Charles Sturt University (CSU), Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) and Bila Muuji Aboriginal Health Service Inc. will join forces, launching two oral health partnerships in Dubbo on Monday 6 April. A Memorandum of Understand (MoU) between CSU and Bila Muuji will be signed to establish a Student Clinical Placement Program for CSU Dentistry and Oral Health Therapy undergraduates at regional Bila Muuji sites and to investigate opportunities of joint research projects. Furthermore, a partnership between Bila Muuji and GWAHS will see the appointment of Oral Health Promotion Coordinator, Ms Kay Jackson. The School of Dentistry and Health Sciences is particularly excited by this partnership. “Bila Muuji clinical activities and CSU’s educational footprint very neatly dovetail across western NSW,” says Professor Ward Massey, Head of School. “The MoU will result in Bila Muuji input into curriculum content and delivery, provision of scholarships for CSU students and patient care at Bila Muuji sites by CSU students and staff.”

People around Wangaratta including the King Valley who were affected by the 2006-07 bushfires can have their say on their experiences of the fires through a survey being mailed to every fire affected household in the area. Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student Emily Sharp, a member of the University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS),  who is studying the role of trust in developing and implementing fire management strategies, has already done in-depth interviews with 38 people affected by the fires as well as 12 agency staff. She is investigating what factors influence trust between communities and government agencies before, during and after a fire. “People’s experiences of the fires depended on many factors, including where they lived, how much vegetation was around them, the topography, how much experience of fire they had had beforehand, and their confidence in their fire plans.” The survey, to go to up to 650 residents in mid April, will take 25 to 30 minutes to complete. Ms Sharp hopes her research will improve community/government agency relationships.

While rain water may be free, drinking it may not be risk free, says one Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher. Dr Andrea Crampton, a microbiologist with the CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, said while drinking water supplied to cities and towns is treated and routinely monitored for bacteria and other potential contaminants, the water drunk by most rural residents living on properties is not monitored and detection and prevention is left in the hands of the consumer. “Drinking water harvested from roofs, bores, dams or rivers could pose health risks to those who rely on it,” said Dr Crampton, who is part of a research team currently testing water from self-managed sources for bacteria and other contaminants. As part of the study, which is running around Wagga Wagga in April and May, participants will be sent a water test kit consisting of a survey, collection bottles, instructions and cooler bag with ice pack to keep water cool. Participants will also be contacted for a telephone interview. Anyone interested in participating in the study and having drinking water tested for free please contact Dr Crampton on (02) 6933 4032 or send an email.

A new Charles Sturt University (CSU) course starting in 2010 could see music teachers educated through regional music conservatoriums around Australia. The new CSU Associate Degree in Music Education is aimed at the teaching of an instrument. The brainchild of CSU and Orange Regional Conservatorium Director Mr Graham Sattler, the two year full-time course at CSU at Bathurst, or four years part-time by distance education, concentrates on studies into educational, curriculum, teaching and professional issues. “The ability to deliver this course by distance education makes it very accessible,” says Christopher Klopper, a music lecturer with CSU’s School of Teacher Education. “It combines theory and practice in an exciting approach that will build the confidence of both aspiring and practicing music teachers.”

Fourteen police intelligence officers from the Middle East have commenced their policing studies in Australia. The serving officers, from Abu Dhabi in the Persian Gulf, are enrolled in the Master of Arts (Criminal Intelligence) course from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Australian Graduate School of Policing, based in Manly.  “CSU is adding to its strong record of close cooperation with international police forces, having already trained officers from such countries as Hong Kong and Indonesia,” said Head of School, Associate Professor Mark Briskey. The new students commenced their year long course in March with a six week residential school that includes field trips to learn about the intelligence capabilities of the NSW Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, NSW courts, the NSW Department of Corrective Services and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre.       

A leading Australian theologian will examine the relationship between Christianity and Islam when he delivers a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst on Tuesday 14 April as part of the University’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Reverend Professor James Haire, AM, whose address will draw on his extensive international and inter-faith experience, is Professor of Theology at CSU, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture and Director of CSU's Public and Contextual Theology Research Centre, based in Canberra. “I will look at the inter-relationships of Christianity and Islam in global perspective, and at the implications for Australia. I will also draw on personal experience in inter-faith dialogue and negotiations,” Reverend Professor Haire said. The lecture will start at 6.30pm on 14 April in the James Hardie Room, Centre for Professional Development, at CSU Bathurst Campus.

The Federal Government has finally got the plan right for the National Broadband Network (NBN) according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) adjunct researcher Mr Peter Adams. Mr Adams, who has studied household broadband adoption for the past seven years, said today's announcement by the Rudd Government that it would form a public-private partnership to build the NBN is the best outcome from what has been an issue poorly managed by successive governments."Having the Commonwealth control the building of such important national infrastructure will ultimately achieve the best outcome for broadband users by ensuring there is clear separation between the provider of the cables and the commercial companies who compete to service consumers.” The researcher from CSU's Centre for Research in Complex Systems warned the Rudd Government now has a big job: it will manage the building of the network, and needs to convince households they will be better off under the proposed NBN. "Research conducted at CSU in 2008 showed householders are not convinced they should spend their income on higher speed broadband.  Clear information must be provided to consumers about the benefits of NBN services."