Members of the public, health professionals, academics and students are invited to a free public lecture by Dr Brian Maguire, a visiting US Fulbright scholar at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, on Wednesday 19 May. Professor Peter O’Meara, Professor in Paramedic Practice and Leadership at the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Bathurst said it was a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in the future of paramedic and ambulance services to hear and meet Dr Maguire, a researcher who is contributing to the shaping of paramedic practice and services around the world. “Dr Maguire's groundbreaking research in the United States was the first to show that ambulance personnel in that country have an occupational fatality rate and a non-fatal injury rate that is far above the national average and comparable to the rates for police and fire-fighters,” Professor O’Meara said.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Policing Studies in Goulburn received a NSW Premier’s Public Sector Awards 2009 Commendation on Friday 7 May for its Indigenous Police Recruitment Out West Delivery (IPROWD) project. The award was in the category of Engaging with the Community, and included CSU’s program delivery partners the Department of Police and Emergency Services, NSW Police Force, the Department of Education and Training, and TAFE Western Institute. The Head of the School of Policing Studies, Associate Professor Rosemary Woolston, said, “The School of Policing Studies has been actively involved in this program since its inception and has worked closely with TAFE Dubbo to ensure the curriculum suitably prepares the Indigenous students for study in the Associate Degree in Policing Practice, the entry course for the NSW Police Force. In particular, Mr Paul Comino, a lecturer in the School, has been a key player in this project.”

The Curate at Saint John’s Canberra will be honoured for outstanding academic achievements at Charles Sturt University (CSU) when she is awarded the CSU Medal at her graduation on Thursday 20 May. Ordained as an Anglican Deacon in November 2009, The Rev. Susan Bridge will be awarded a Bachelor of Theology with Distinction during the CSU graduation ceremony from 5pm in the Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney. The graduate is a lawyer and worked in senior management positions before leaving her former career to study at CSU through the St Mark's National Theological Centre by distance education. The Rev. Bridge moved from Sydney to Canberra in the final year of her degree in 2009 to continue her studies on campus and to be ordained in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. "I loved studying at St Mark's and now I am delighted to be involved in the life of a vibrant Anglican parish based in the Canberra suburb of Reid," she said.

A graduate of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) primary school teaching program at Ontario has taken out the ‘New teacher of the Year’ award in the 2010 Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Ms Michelle Jerzyk teaches Grade 4/5 at Sam Sherratt Public School in Milton and graduated in 2007 from the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES). “Teaching is an extremely rewarding vocation. Each day, the kids in my class inspire me. It is truly amazing to see them want to come to class every day to learn, and to grow together,” Ms Jerzyk said. The Head of the Ontario School of Education, Dr Will Letts said, “The staff and alumni at Charles Sturt University are tremendously proud of Michelle’s achievement. As they say in Australia ‘good on her’! Michelle’s passion to meet the needs of each and every student, and her commitment to continuous learning and innovation in education, is a wonderful reflection of the values and objectives of our BPES program.” Ms Jerzyk said her training at CSU helped her become a better teacher. “Charles Sturt University’s approach is different than other universities. First, they want to meet you and actually interview you and, throughout the program, they place a lot of emphasis on practicum in the classroom and learning best practices and the latest education research. I think that helped to prepare me for the very demanding job of teaching and set me up for success,” she said.

It will be smiles all round when the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Dentistry foundation students celebrate their professional induction at the inaugural White Coat Ceremony on Friday 21 May. Representatives from the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch), local practitioners and staff will join the second year students as they are presented with a white lab coat featuring the CSU Arms. The white coats will be presented to the 2009 foundation students by Head of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor David Wilson. “The coat is a memento signifying the students’ commitment to the course and the dental profession,” he said. With the establishment of dentistry clinics at Albury, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga, the second year students are looking forward to beginning their practical work.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) adjunct lecturer is shedding new light on dark matter, which makes up most of the Universe. Dark matter remains a mystery with no convincing theory ever having been put forward to explain its existence, according to Dr Allan Ernest from the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics. He says scientists struggle to explain dark matter and they need to use ideas that involve new, ‘made-up’ physics or as yet unknown, undiscovered particles. Dr Ernest says, “My theory uses well known physics and ordinary particles. When applied, ordinary matter can be made invisible by putting it into the right ‘state’, producing the dark matter halos of galaxies in the early universe. It’s a hypothesis that seems to be able to explain almost all of the observations of dark matter”. Dr Ernest along with Dr Matthew Collins will present the theory at the upcoming 18th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation in July.

The new Dental and Oral Health Clinic at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga is fulfilling its mission to address the rural dental shortage. Following the Clinic’s official opening at the end of 2009, the first intake of oral health students are treating patients under the tutoring of Clinic Director, Ms Helen Tane, lecturer Ms Simone Alexander, with supervision by Dr Kathleen Matthews. “The students in the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) are currently treating teenagers from local high schools and will soon move on to treat primary school-aged children,” Ms Tane said. “The free consultations for the paediatric patients include a routine check-up, X-rays, and the implementation of an oral health plan if necessary. There are appointments available and Charles Sturt University would welcome any younger patients.” The Clinic is also accepting adult patients, who are required to see the qualified CSU Dentist Dr Kathleen Matthews before they’re referred to an oral health student under supervision. Clinic appointments can be made by telephoning 1300 278 642.

A play based on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be staged by students and staff from the School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 May. The Popular Mechanicals is directed by Ms Annabel Scholes, a lecturer in theatre and event management, and is designed by Mr Karl Shead, a theatre technical officer at CSU, in association with CYCLE Productions. “The play was written by Australian playwrights Tony Taylor and Keith Robinson and was first presented in 1987 at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney,” Ms Scholes said. “It is the hilarious, off-stage story of six clowns - Bottom, Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snug and Snout - as they prepare for immortal fame by performing their version of Pyramus and Thisbe at the Royal Wedding. As they rehearse they are unaware of their own limitations and foolishness, and we love them for their belief in themselves as they sing and dance their way to inevitable ruination.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will be the venue for the annual FACTS Day (Facts About Careers and Tertiary Study) to be staged by the Central West Careers Advisers Association on Thursday 27 May. Approximately 1 000 Year 12 students from schools in Bathurst, Lithgow, Kandos, Oberon, Blayney, Cowra, Orange and Molong will have the opportunity to obtain information from approximately 120 representatives from more than 60 career and employer organisations, including universities, private providers, TAFE, Centrelink, police and other government agencies. Ms Fran Dwyer, a CSU Prospective Student Adviser, said, “This day offers our regional final-year high school students the opportunity to experience our University by attending the campus. It incorporates access to educational providers and a motivational speaker, and some schools will also take the opportunity while here to tour the campus.”