Kiama High School pupils will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dubbo Campus tomorrow to hear about CSU’s innovative Enhanced Training Program for teaching in schools with significant Aboriginal enrolments. Tracey Simpson, senior lecturer and Associate Head of the School of Teacher Education at CSU Dubbo, is the driving force behind the program. She explains that fourth year Bachelor of Teaching students, who participate in the Enhanced Program, take on subjects that explore “Aboriginal history and social justice issues, as well as working within schools and communities where there are Aboriginal families”. Todd Mackie, who attended Kiama High, is currently undertaking the Enhanced Program, which he describes as, “Extremely positive. It is amazing how the learning experiences in the program are starting to connect and help us see the bigger picture - addressing systematic educational inequalities."

Academics and other professional staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are being introduced to the next wave of online change. Associate Professor Marian Tulloch, the Director of the Centre for Enhanced Learning and Teaching (CELT), will introduce the new online learning and teaching environment CSU Interact at a series of seminars on CSU’s campuses between 7 May and 16 May. “In early 2008 CSU Interact the new online collaborative scholarly environment will be rolled out across the University for learning and teaching,” Professor Tulloch said. “As part of CSU’s flexible learning strategy it will provide an integrated, enhanced and evolving learning environment for on and off campus students. Because it is a complex and collaborative process, these seminars will provide an opportunity for staff to hear more about the development of CSU Interact, to ask questions, and make suggestions.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Human Movement Studies initiative with the Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) at Bathurst aims to enhance the performance and competitive edge of elite athletes from regional NSW while providing practical experience for CSU Human Movement students. Dr Stephen Bird, a lecturer in Human Movement at CSU, said the program, known as the ‘WRAS Strength and Conditioning Internship (SCI)’, offers the human resources, scientific knowledge and programming expertise that enables athletes to train systematically and safely to improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injury. “The Internships are open to senior second and third year Human Movement students and will give them the proficiency, skills and knowledge required as early-career strength and conditioning professionals. The first two CSU interns, Ryan Drew and Geoff Minett, will devise individualised programs with strength and conditioning activities specific to each athlete’s chosen sport,” he said.

Professor Lyn Gorman has been appointed the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at Charles Sturt University (CSU). In making the announcement on Thursday 3 May, CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter congratulated Professor Gorman and said, “I look forward to working with Professor Gorman in achieving the University Strategy 2007-2011 over the coming years”. Professor Gorman, who was previously the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and acting DV-C since June 2006, began her career at CSU in 1991. “I love what I am doing. I enjoy the opportunity for engagement with the Divisions, but I also remain involved with the Graduate Certificate in University Leadership and Management, which I sponsored when I was Dean of the Faculty, and also in developing online resources through my work as the presiding officer of the NSW HSC Online project’s Board of Management.”

BATHURST NSW: Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, will formally announce plans to seek the support of the State and Federal governments to establish a new medical program in central west NSW based in Orange and Bathurst. “With a fully functioning, upgraded hospital in Bathurst and a new base hospital in Orange soon to open, the Central West is becoming the health hub of NSW,” said Professor Goulter. “Charles Sturt University is leading the way in growing the future rural medical workforce and this initiative exemplifies our commitment to the health of rural and regional Australia.” The announcement will be made at midday Wednesday 18 August at CSU in Bathurst.  Other speakers include: Chancellor Lawrie Willett, AO (former Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health; former Chairman, National Health and Medical Research Council; Chairman, Australian Hospital Care Limited) Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, AO (former Head of School and Clinical Dean, University of New South Wales Medical School; Clinical Program Director, Medicine and Oncology, Prince Henry/Prince of Wales Hospitals)  Mr Danny O’Connor, Chief Executive, Greater Western Area Health Service, NSW Health  Mr Gerard Martin, State Member for Bathurst  Clr Paul Toole, Mayor of Bathurst  Clr John Davis, Mayor of Orange

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) Distance Education psychology student will be awarded four separate University prizes as well as the University Medal when he graduates with first class honours at the CSU Bathurst Campus graduation ceremony on Friday 11 May. Mr Justin Harrison will receive his Bachelor of Psychology (Honours, Class 1) together with the Australian Psychological Society Prize, the Coleman's Prize in Psychology, the Social Sciences and Liberal Studies School Prize, and the W J Coote Showcase Jewellers Prize. “I did my first three years undergraduate as a distance education student in Alice Springs and completed my thesis part-time in Wagga Wagga,” Justin explained. “It is great to reap the rewards of hard work, but at the end of the day you are as good as your training, and my training has been excellent. I am now honoured to be counted as a new colleague among the CSU teaching team I hold in such high regard,” Justin said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario graduate Elizabeth Wild has been chosen as a First Year Teacher of Excellence for the Calgary Catholic School District in Canada. Elizabeth was in the first group of graduates from CSU’s Bachelor of Primary Education Studies, an elementary program for primary–junior teachers, which is offered by CSU onsite in Burlington, Ontario. Elizabeth teaches grade two at St. Rupert Elementary School in Calgary. She says she “loved” her CSU experience. “It provided me with hands-on, practical knowledge and experience and I was taught very cutting edge and progressive teaching techniques. CSU's program was absolutely fantastic. I really do feel like it is the best program in Ontario to prepare teachers for what the real classroom is going to be like. I think what I learned from CSU was a big part of the reason I was nominated for this award.”

The Premier of NSW, the Hon. Ms Kristina Keneally, MP, will meet with the Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Ian Goulter, during her visit to Bathurst on Friday 20 August. Professor Goulter will discuss with Ms Keneally the University’s proposal announced on Wednesday 18 August for $90 million from the Federal Government to establish a medical school at CSU in Orange, as well as funding for an Integrated Primary Health Care Clinic at CSU in Bathurst. The University has indicated it intends to seek the support of the NSW Government to open additional clinical places for CSU medical students in NSW hospitals. While at CSU in Bathurst, the Premier will also inspect the University’s newly completed Dental and Oral Health Clinic. Ms Keneally will discuss with Professor Goulter and Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Nick Klomp, the University’s request for government support for the construction of Australia’s first national paramedic education centre in Bathurst. The centre would allow the University to significantly increase its student intake and provide students with access to world-leading paramedic education facilities. The meeting will be joined by the Mayor of Bathurst, Councillor Paul Toole, to discuss a planned Technology Park adjoining CSU and the Western Institute of TAFE in Bathurst.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research team, funded by Land and Water Australia, believe they know where the key to successful serrated tussock control in native pastures can be found - in the people most affected by this weed, farmers. “A weed of national significance, serrated tussock covers more than one million hectares in NSW alone and impacts on the ability of farmers to make a living,” researcher Dr Aaron Simmons explains. “There are no concrete figures on how much land in the greater Bathurst area is infested but there are infestations around Turondale, Hill End, Rockley and Trunkey Creek.” Some farmers have been able to control this devastating weed whilst others have struggled. Although the CSU research team have interviewed many farmers in the district they are looking for more. Dr Aaron Simmons explains, “We want to interview around 80 people, or 40 sites, for this project and we are halfway there. Any further sites that could be found would be greatly appreciated”.