Charles Sturt University ’s (CSU) claim to theatrical excellence has again been enhanced with the University Theatre Ensemble’s production of The Five O’clock Wave winning three categories at the recent Canberra Area Theatre Awards.. The University Theatre Ensemble picked up the award for Best Production, while Wagga Wagga based script writer Stephen Vagg was honoured with an award for Best Original Work. CSU senior lecturer at the School of Performing Arts David Wicks was recognised as Best Director. The play showcased the talents of ten actors from CSU’s BA Acting for Screen and Stage. The Five O’clock Wave was up against seventy other productions from across the ACT and central and southern NSW.  

The Border community will receive a glimpse of modern Indigenous art when Wiradjuri visual artist Ms Leonie McIntosh presents a free public lecture on her work at Charles Sturt University (CSU) this Friday 13 May. Ms McIntosh is a practicing artist, an active member of the Albury-Wodonga Indigenous community, and is currently lecturing in Indigenous art with first year students in CSU’s Murray School of Education. The free public lecture will start at 10am in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. Ms McIntosh will also lead workshops with CSU education students as part of CSU’s Visiting Artist Program.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host 60 students in Years 5 and 6 from three Central West schools - Trangie, Portland and Peak Hill central schools – on Wednesday 18 May as part of the Regional ASPIRE program. Regional ASPIRE encourages students as young as five to consider university education as a post-school option. The federally-funded program aims to ensure equal information access and awareness of university study for all students, especially for those from rural and remote areas that are under-represented in higher education. Director of Academic Support at CSU, Ms Liz Smith, said, "The research is very clear that students' ideas about who attends university, and more importantly who doesn't, are formed at a very young age. It's important for children and their families to understand their options in terms of university, and Regional ASPIRE plays a big part in building that understanding." Ms Sue Rogan, Manager of Pre-entry Programs at CSU  has been responsible for the development of Regional ASPIRE at CSU, which sees student ambassadors working with the school children when they visit the campus. Ms Rogan said, “We have an outstanding group of ambassadors who the school students will enjoy working with, and their day will end with a mini graduation."

Education students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will show Border parents ideas and resources for raising young children at an expo to be staged in Lavington on Tuesday 24 May. Aimed at parents of children aged up to three years, final year students have researched and developed demonstrations surrounding hot topics in early childhood, including childcare services in Albury-Wodonga, encouraging literacy, and overcoming separation anxiety for children and parents. CSU students Ms Heather Wilson and Ms Hannah Oberin said they will “provide brochures and information packages on childcare centres around Albury-Wodonga that help parents with tips on what to look for when sourcing quality care for their children”. In exploring fostering early literacy, Ms Angela Fogarty said parents “can carry out practical ideas that can be used in the home to build a love for important aspects of literacy such as reading”. The Parent Information Expo will run from 10am to 12noon on 24 May in the Mirambeena Community Centre, 19 Martha Mews, Lavington.

Turning her classroom into a grocery store is just one example of how Charles Sturt University (CSU) teaching graduate, Ms Alison Wojkowski, strives to make learning fun and meaningful. Ms Wojkowski, who graduated from CSU Ontario’s Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES) in 2008, has been recognised in the Teacher of the Year category of the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She said the primary school teaching program at CSU helped prepare her for the classroom. “The program provided hands-on lessons, applicable ideas and theories, and a significant period of time in each work placement,” Ms Wojkowski said. “I was able to develop a number of effective teaching, classroom management and relationship building strategies.” It is the second year in a row that a CSU graduate has won the prestigious award, with Ms Michelle Jerzyk recognised in 2010. The Head of the Ontario School of Education at CSU Dr Will Letts, said “Alison epitomises what we hope for all BPES graduates, to take their Charles Sturt University education and extend it in creative and meaningful ways.”  Ms Wojkowski is now teaching kindergarten at W H Morden Public School in Oakville. “Every day at least one thing happens with my students to make me smile,” she said. “I will continue to strive to help all of my students see the joy in learning, something I hope they will carry with them for life.”

A new scholarship will be added to the 2011 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Annual Scholarship Day at CSU’s Orange Campus on Friday 20 May. Eighteen scholarships are being awarded in all disciplines ranging from agricultural business and dentistry to pharmacy and physiotherapy. Among a number of new awards is the Abbott Scholarship for Australian Indigenous students of Pharmacy. This is a substantial scholarship to the value of $60,000 over four years. “Charles Sturt University is pleased to acknowledge the generous support of the Abbott Company, which was founded in the United States more than 120 years ago by Dr Wallace C Abbott, a practicing physician and pharmacy proprietor,” says Head of Campus Professor Kevin Parton. “Charles Sturt University is especially grateful to the donors of the many scholarships because, without them, many students would not be able to attend the University.”

The education of teachers has been a core part of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its predecessor institutions since 1947 with the establishment of the Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College. A public forum will be held on Tuesday 24 May to discuss teachers’ important role in our diverse society. “Everyone's talking about the need for great teachers in every classroom, so how do we produce quality teachers?” asks Head of the School of Education  at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Associate Professor Roslyn Brennan Kemmis. “In our increasingly complex society, it is important that we examine the university subjects offered to education students to ensure we prepare them for a world that is rapidly changing. We need to produce teachers that are lifelong learners and agents of change within the reality of today’s schools and prepare students as 21st century teachers.

Strong prices and demand for prime lambs have seen producers shift their focus from wool production during recent times. But Professor of Animal Production at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Peter Wynn is urging Riverina producers not to lose sight of the importance of wool in their farm business. “Wool production has been the backbone of Australia and will continue to be an integral component of farm business income, particularly across the Riverina,” said Professor Wynn, who is also a member of the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – an alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. “It is important producers continue to integrate wool production into their farming practices and not be heavily swayed by current market trends.” The Graham Centre together with the University of Sydney have organised a wool symposium to be held on Wednesday 18 May at Hay. “The symposium will provide an opportunity for wool growers to meet with key industry researchers and future leaders in the industry.” Forty final year animal science students from CSU and the University of Sydney are expected to attend the event. The program is available from the Graham Centre website here.

World Health Organisation predictions of a 60 per cent increase in Type 2 Diabetes between 1995 and 2030 have been challenged by a new study from Ontario. Researchers there have found a 69 per cent increase in the rate of the disease between 1995 and 2005 - far greater than previous projections for Canada. The authors of the new research say this could have devastating consequences worldwide. Professor Patrick Ball from Charles Sturt University’s School of Biomedical Sciences isn’t surprised. "The clear evidence is that we are losing the battle. There are so many different facets to the problem including lack of exercise and modern diets packed with fats and sugar. People are starting to accept diabetes as a normal part of the ageing process. I believe it is a worse health problem than tobacco."