The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Ian Goulter, welcomed the NSW Minister for Lands, the Hon. Mr Tony Kelly, MLC, to the campus in Bathurst on Monday 31 January to formally approve a change to the ‘public purpose’ of CSU land to allow the University to commence formal negotiations with Day Procedures Australia Pty Ltd to establish a private hospital on the campus. “This is an important step in the development of Charles Sturt University’s planned new Medical School and will enable us to provide high quality training for students in a busy clinical environment,” Professor Goulter said. The University has been in discussions with Day Procedures Australia, which operates the Bathurst Private Hospital and Orange Day Surgery Centre, to lease land on the campus for a new private hospital development. The hospital will be built in a new Health Education Precinct on the campus in Bathurst, alongside the new Dental and Oral Health Clinic and CSU’s planned Primary Health Clinic, and will include two surgical theatres and a 20 bed ward, with radiography, pathology and other services. It will provide services to the Bathurst and central western communities, and expand clinical training opportunities for students enrolled in CSU’s planned medical program and existing health science courses.

A fascinating look at community forest management in India will be the topic of conversation at a Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange Campus public seminar next Tuesday 20 March. Matthew McNee is a PhD student studying a South American farming system that would have significant conservation and economic benefits if it could be adapted and managed in semi-arid and rain-limited environments. Prior to this he spent six months in India working for The Foundation for Ecological Security as part of an overseas work experience program with a Queensland university. “My role in India was to help develop the staff’s skills in environmental valuation so that the true value of forest resources could be determined for the needs of local village communities,” he explained. Matthew will speak about his discoveries and adventures as part of CSU’s weekly seminar program in Orange on Tuesday 20 March from 1pm to 2pm. For more information on the program contact Michael Kemp on 02 6365 7840.

With a strong collaborative relationship already established between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), the partnership will be extended on Wednesday 21 April when APA representatives meet the first students at CSU in Orange. “Although the APA have visited Physiotherapy students at CSU in Albury for a number of years, we now offer Physiotherapy at the Orange Campus and the APA were eager to meet the new students,” lecturer Ms Kerstin McPherson said.  “A fourth year Charles Sturt University physiotherapy student is currently a member of the APA National Student Committee and we hope that a representative from the Orange Campus can be included on the committee in the future.” The APA visitors will meet with CSU students and lecturers, tour the CSU campus and enjoy a barbecue lunch.

Three universities in New South Wales will bring an information road show about going to university to regional schools to give senior high school students a better understanding of tertiary education. The University Road Show comprises Charles Sturt University (CSU), Southern Cross University and the University of New England. Students will get the chance to discover more about university life and potential career paths when the University Road Show visits schools in the New England, North Coast, Hunter, Central West and Blue Mountains regions during March. Now in its tenth year, the University Road Show will visit more schools than ever before, sharing information with around 5 000 students at 120 schools. CSU Prospective Student Adviser Ms Katy Fardell said, “By pooling resources, Charles Sturt University, Southern Cross University and the University of New England are able to provide excellent advice to students in one visit, maximising the study options presented to students while minimising the amount of time students need to be away from the classroom.”

In time for the beginning of the 2011 school year, Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Information Studies lecturer Dr James Herring has published his new book, Improving Students' Web Use and Information Literacy: A guide for teachers and teacher librarians. The book is a practical resource about using the web effectively in order to enhance learning and teaching in schools. It covers topics such as learning and teaching in today’s schools, finding and using information on the web, evaluating websites, improving student use of the web, and developing learning websites for student use.

A passion for teaching has earned Charles Sturt University (CSU) Faculty of Education academic Dr Beverley Moriarty an award for her efforts. The inaugural CSU Faculty of Education Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Award was offered for the first time in 2010 and invited all Faculty of Education staff at CSU to apply. The evaluation panel noted the strong feedback from students in an application that reflected Dr Moriarty’s passion for teaching and dedication to students. “Charles Sturt University values its academic staff and rewards the quality of teaching and learning experiences, as this is the core of what we do.” explained Dr Alan Bain, acting Sub-Dean Learning and Teaching and Associate Professor at the School of Teacher Education. “What came through in Dr Moriarty’s application was her responsiveness and sensitivity to the needs of students. She has a real passion for what she’s doing.” The Award’s application process asks the applicant to support their case with feedback from peers, students and referees.

Australia’s population is ageing rapidly and Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Rylee Dionigi, a Fellow with the CSU Centre for Inland Health Research, is interviewing Bathurst residents as part of collaborative research about factors affecting physical activity among older adults in Australia and Canada. Dr Dionigi said, “Ageing is generally discussed with the empahasis on the declining body, and the research will inform future policies on healthy ageing. It asks people about their current leisure activities, what dissuades them from regular physical activity, their definition of ‘healthy ageing’ and expectations of the ageing process. I am particularly interested in the meaning older people attach to their physical activity or lack thereof in relation to current health promotions and stereotypes of older age. I hope this research encourages policy makers to heed the outcomes of small scale interpretive studies which will lead to greater understanding and tolerance of later life in general.”

New research led by Charles Sturt University (CSU) aims to learn more about alcohol and drug use by workers in Australia’s agricultural and fishing industries. Research leader Dr Julaine Allan, from CSU’s Centre for Inland Health and a Senior Research Fellow at the Lyndon Community, an alcohol and other drugs service in western NSW, said, “The research aims to gauge the extent of substance use, assess the safety implications, and understand and help ease the stresses that may lead workers to take alcohol and drugs.   We want to speak to people who work in the agricultural and fishing industries throughout regional Australia, confidentially and without prejudice. We would also like to interview their family members, and community leaders in the relevant regional areas.”

As part of the re-enactment of the famous Freedom Ride bus trip in 1965 to break down segregation laws in regional NSW and Australia, participants in the Freedom Ride 2011 will camp at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Sunday 13 February on their way from Sydney to Moree. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, said, “Charles Sturt University welcomes the 2011 Freedom Riders to Dubbo. We recognise the significance of this event and understand the historical importance of the present event in light of the original 1965 Freedom Ride.” Mr John Nolan, Community Relations Officer at the Centre for Indigenous Studies at CSU in Dubbo, said, “The University will host about 40 participants and give them a warm welcome to Dubbo and the University, including a Welcome to Country ceremony. The travellers will meet local Elders and community members, and guests including the Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University, Professor Ian Goulter, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ross Chambers.” The evening will conclude with a barbeque and entertainment.