Thirty five senior high school students from the central west will attend an intensive week-long program facilitated by the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst to inform and motivate them to pursue a career in the arts. Associate Head of the School, Dr Peter Simmons, said, “Charles Sturt University has a proud tradition of educating work-ready professionals for a range communication and creative industries such as theatre, journalism, television production, and public relations. ‘A Start in the Arts’ is a very positive way to promote our courses to students in the region who are keen to pursue a career in the arts and creative industries. For students this is a hands-on opportunity in advertising, journalism, scriptwriting, radio and video production, under the guidance of experienced lecturers. ” Working with the Australian charity A Start in Life, the program aims to give the students insights and experience to inform their study and career choices.

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics have volunteered to spend time behind bars to raise awareness and funds for the ‘Time 4 Kids’ program organised by the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). Justice studies lecturer Dr Diane Solomon-Westerhuis and Mr David Bull, both from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Bathurst, are seeking donations for their ‘bail’ when they temporarily spend a few hours in a specially fabricated ‘cell’ on the shopping concourse at the Bathurst City Centre at 3pm on Thursday 7 April. “The PCYC Time 4 Kids fundraiser and similar programs offer young people opportunities they may not otherwise experience that can be significant turning points in their lives. I congratulate the PCYC volunteers and staff for their hard work to promote Time 4 Kids, so I ask people to donate generously - and get me out on ‘bail’!” Dr Solomon-Westerhuis said.

The MyDay event at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 7 April will provide information and insights for about 30 senior students from 10 high schools in the region about exercise science, and health and physical education courses. CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Fran Dwyer, said, “This MyDay will provide general information and interactive sessions with academics from the School of Human Movement Studies  at Charles Sturt University. These disciplines prepare students for a dynamic range of career options with high employment, and the students will be shown the range of state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories on the campus.”

It was a true a celebration for one Wagga Wagga family during the graduation season at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Mrs Susan Moi was awarded a Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) on Thursday 31 March. During the same ceremony, her daughter, Ms Yangi Moi, was awarded a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours Class 2 Division 1. In addition, Ms Moi received the Lila Kirilik Social Action Memorial Award for 2010.  The annual prize was awarded by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga to Ms Moi for demonstrating social justice in her workplace learning at Centrelink in 2010. During her placement with the agency, Ms Moi researched a framework for providing support during emergencies in rural Australia, such as bushfires, droughts or farm accidents. A Centrelink working party is now examining how to implement the framework. Ms Moi is a youth liaison worker at one of Wagga Wagga’s welfare agencies. “I enjoy working with young people and have a passion for helping people,” said Ms Moi. As her four children got older, Mrs Moi began her studies at the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute before completing her degree at CSU last year. She is now a domestic violence worker in Wagga Wagga.

Senior police officers from Hyderabad in India are visiting NSW as part of a two-week study tour at the conclusion of their postgraduate studies at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Australian Graduate School of Policing. As part of the second of three annual academic training courses for Indian police officers to be delivered by the AGSP, 114 senior officers will attend special lectures and visit a range of facilities to hear from senior Australian officers and academics, including CSU’s Associate Professor Nick O’Brien and Mr Mick Keelty, the former Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. The officers, facilitated by invaluable support from NSW Police, will visit key operational facilities, see leading technologies, systems and best practices in Australian policing. They will visit the CSU School of Policing Studies in Goulburn to inspect the facilities, examine the training course, and attend their graduation.

The winner of the first Veterinary Science Medal at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has endorsed the veterinary science program. “The course, which began in 2005, has achieved what it set out to do,” said the recently graduated veterinarian, Dr Greg Dale. “That is, produce veterinarians who want to live and work in regional Australia to deliver veterinary services.” Dr Dale should know. “I grew up in Sydney and I have no desire to return to the big smoke. I have recently accepted a job at Kempsey in regional NSW. Members of the inaugural veterinary science class at Charles Sturt University secured jobs prior to their graduation last week and everyone is working in regional Australia. The highlights of the new program include its practical component. Not just working in clinics, but spending time on farms has broadened our experience, and given us a better understanding of animal production systems. I believe this has provided us with the grounding to offer relevant advice and practical solutions to producers.” Dr Dale also praised the new purpose-built facilities at CSU, including the Kay Hull Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Veterinary Clinical Centre.   

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Community Health will give high school students from around Albury-Wodonga a personal experience of study at CSU on Thursday 7 April. Over 90 students will work with CSU undergraduate students and staff for the day, following them through lectures, laboratory study and fieldwork, as the CSU students go about a ‘normal day’ in their studies as part of the University’s MyDay program. Head of the School of Community Health, Dr Gayle Smythe, said open days can only show a snapshot of university life, but “you have to ‘be a student for a day’ to see what it is really like. This is particularly important for the University’s degrees that are highly focussed on the allied health professions.” The Year 11 and 12 students are from 20 high schools from as far as North East Victoria, the Riverina and Central West NSW, as well as local Border schools.

With numerous Charles Sturt University (CSU) students winning previous Sydney Royal Showgirl competitions, current CSU student Stephanie Tarlinton hopes to be the next. The 24 year old from Cobargo on the far south coast of NSW has been named a state finalist in The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition and will attend the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show for a week, with the presentation ceremony being held on Saturday 16 April. Ms Tarlinton is a third year Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management student at CSU in Orange. “I’m very excited to be selected as a finalist in the competition,” said Ms Tarlinton, “It’s quite a privilege to represent my family, my community and the wider region. The competition brings together girls from so many different backgrounds but we’re all passionate about agriculture and our community so I’m looking forward to meeting them all and doing well in the competition.” The Sydney Royal Showgirl contestants are judged on personality, confidence, ambition and life goals, general knowledge, rural knowledge, presentation and speech. 

While most spend their holidays relaxing, a group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students has been learning how to generate positive environmental change. Six CSU students are taking part in the Green Steps  training and internship program. The program aims to bridge the gap between study and work, by equipping young leaders with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle sustainability issues. CSU environmental science and management student Ms Karina Maloney took part in the training program held in Wagga Wagga from Monday 4 to Friday 8 April. “I wanted to broaden my understanding of environmental issues and gain practical skills to take into the workplace,” she said. The training will be put into practice during internships between April and October. During this period students will work with an organisation to reduce its environmental footprint. CSU is the first regional university to host the Green Steps program following its introduction by Monash University in 2000.