* Six small schools and 125 students expected to participate * Presentation assembly will recognise students’ 2018 sporting achievements across the small schools * Day will feature indoor and gymnasium sports and a barbeque lunchCharles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host the annual 2018 Small Schools Gala Sports day on Friday 30 November.Participating schools are from Sofala, Wattle Flat, Rockley, Black Springs, Meadow Flat and O’Connell.Approximately 125 students, 10 teachers and 20 parents are expected to attend.The students, teachers and parents will be welcomed to CSU at the presentation ceremony by Mr James Brann, Director, Engagement, in the CSU Division of Student Services.Mr Brann said, “Charles Sturt University has a long standing reputation not only in Bathurst, but across its footprint for working with local communities, forming partnerships and encouraging an interest in higher education. What better way to do this by inviting primary school students onto our campus and be exposed to the University through a key unifier of participation in sport.”Program for the 2018 Small Schools Gala Sports Day:* 9.45am – School students arrive at CSU in Bathurst* 10am - Presentation assembly recognising sporting achievements across the small schools for the year. Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country by Mr James Brann from Division of Student Services atCSU; held in building 1292, lecture room 223.* 11am - Recess* 11.15am - Ball games held in the CD Blake Auditorium (the gym, building 1220)* 11am - 12.30pm - Sports rotations, in the gym or on the oval.* 12.30pm - 1pm - Barbeque lunch held behind the CD Blake Auditorium* 1pm - 2pm - Sports rotations, in the gym or on the oval* 2pm - Event concludes

* Students who complete the program achieve an average 75 percent progression rate. * Majority of students completing the program offered CSU course placement. * Program supporting more Indigenous students to access higher education. The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Indigenous Access Program is assisting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders into tertiary education.The five-day program that will be held at CSU in Port Macquarie from 3 to 7 December includes a range of activities aimed at building confidence and providing students with practical steps they can take to get into their chosen course.CSU Indigenous Programs Officer Leslie Lyons said the Indigenous Access Program provided a successful transition to university.“Students who complete the Indigenous Access Program achieve a 75 percent progress rate compared to 68 percent for those who don’t,” Ms Lyons said.Ms Lyons added the majority of students who complete the program were more confident they would succeed at university.In describing the program, Ms Lyons said the students are given assessments against their preferred course to understand their strengths and what needed to be improved.“Students are either offered a placement or are given an alternative pathway into their chosen program,” Ms Lyons said.CSU Manager of Indigenous Student Centres Blake Dunn said the program provided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students the support and access to the University’s Indigenous study resources to help them succeed.“The Indigenous Access Program provides an entry pathway for our students into university studies. It demonstrates the support that is accessible throughout their university life and connects them with the full range of services we offer Indigenous students,” said Mr Dunn.The Indigenous Access Program is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school-leavers or mature-aged wanting to gain access to CSU.CSU is currently taking further bookings for our February program being held from the 4th to the 8th of February 2019. Applications can be completed online via the Indigenous Access Program website.

* CSU tour and book launch commence 3.20pm Tuesday 27 November * History of Village Way cottages recognisedCharles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will reflect on the history of 18 accommodation cottages (pictured) for staff and students on Village Way on campus at an event on Tuesday 27 November.The event includes a self-guided tour and the launch of Clothesline Full of Nappies, a book by Mrs Sherry Morris of photos and stories from past students and staff that reflect on life in the cottages along Village Way.CSU Division of Facilities Management (DFM) Executive Director Mr Stephen Butt said the event and book acknowledged the significance of the cottages.“The event and book Clothesline Full of Nappies reflect the history of the cottages and that they hold sensitive and significant memories for many members of the University community,” Mr Butt said.Mr Butt also said the University recognised the history of the cottages and the preservation of the memories attached to them was important to the future of CSU.The event will commence from 3.20pm with people invited to walk through the cottages and will be followed by the unveiling of an interactive sign, book launch and speeches.The Cottages will be opened for 30 minutes, with the formal proceedings to commence at 4pm at building 230 (The Deck Bar). Guests are invited to drive from Village Way and park in car park 75.Media are welcome to attend the event and interview staff and guests at 4.35pm. The event ends at 5pm.

* 242 OAGS students to relocate to CSU in Orange due to renovations * CSU makes 12 lecture rooms and facilities available for three daysCSU in Orange is assisting fellow education institution Orange Anglican Grammar School (OAGS) during its current major redevelopment.Head of Campus at CSU in Orange Dr Heather Robinson said the staff and students of OAGS would be welcomed on campus for three days during some major construction developments at their school from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 November, when all OAGS students need to be offsite.“The University is pleased to assist and it’s fortunate that we have finished on-campus teaching sessions for the year and the University’s students aren’t using lecture rooms and other facilities at this time,” Dr Robinson said.“The University will make available 12 lecture rooms to accommodate 242 students, aged between eight to 16 years of age, for OAGS’s teachers to conduct lessons and supervise.“During this period prospective student advisor Ms Hilary Matchett will conduct a campus tour and information session for OAGS students in Years 10 and 11 about courses at the University.”

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Indigenous Access Program is assisting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders into tertiary education.The five-day program that will be held at CSU in Wagga Wagga from 19 to 23 November includes a range of activities aimed at building confidence and providing students with practical steps they can take to get into their chosen course.CSU Indigenous Programs Officer Leslie Lyons said the Indigenous Access Program provided a successful transition to university.“Students who complete the Indigenous Access Program achieve a 75 percent progress rate compared to 68 percent for those who don’t,” Ms Lyons said.Ms Lyons added the majority of students who complete the program were more confident they would succeed at university.In describing the program, Ms Lyons said the students are given assessments against their preferred course to understand their strengths and what needed to be improved.“Students are either offered a placement or are given an alternative pathway into their chosen program,” Ms Lyons said.CSU Manager of Indigenous Student Centres Blake Dunn said the program provided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students the support and access to the University’s Indigenous study resources to help them succeed.“The Indigenous Access Program provides an entry pathway for our students into university studies. It demonstrates the support that is accessible throughout their university life and connects them with the full range of services we offer Indigenous students,” said Mr Dunn.The Indigenous Access Program is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school-leavers or mature-aged wanting to gain access to CSU.CSU is currently taking further bookings for our February program being held from the 4th to the 8th of February 2019. Applications can be completed online via the Indigenous Access Program website.

* Major Mid North Coast sustainability public event in March 2019 * Exhibitors and sponsors enquiries welcome * Sustainability will affect the future quality of life for us allCharles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie is a major sponsor and co-host of the Hastings Sustainability Showcase to be staged on the Mid North Coast in early March 2019.The Port Macquarie Hastings Sustainability Network is staging the event at the Port Macquarie Racecourse on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 March 2019 with the sponsorship support of Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Holiday Coast Credit Union, and CSU Green.Dr Nigel Urwin (pictured), senior lecturer in genetics and gene technologies in the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences in Port Macquarie said, “This event aims to educate, inform and inspire individuals and businesses on the latest ideas, products, and trends in sustainability.“It’s important to remember that ‘sustainability’ is not a fad or buzz-word, but should be the goal of all Australians,” Dr Urwin said.“Sustainability is the enlightened concept of how we can all live more responsibly and shape a better community in this region, in Australia and the world, in response to global environmental and population challenges confronting the planet.“While the Hastings Sustainability Showcase is not until early next year, we welcome enquiries from potential exhibitors and sponsors for this significant free public event. Not-for-profit organisations can exhibit for free.”The Hastings Sustainability Showcase will focus on:* Natural environment* Built environment* Goods and services* Food and agriculture* Transport and infrastructure* Energy* Waste and recycling* Health and well-being* Tourism* Ethical investmentFor more information and direct enquiries, including the prospectus and booking agreement form for your convenience, please refer to pmhsn.org.au/hastings-sustainability-showcase

* CSU free event will examine social and environmental challenges facing rural Australia * Opportunity to meet new book Rusted Off author Ms Gabrielle Chan in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 22 November * Event hosted by leading researcher at CSU Three Rivers University Department of Rural HealthThree Rivers University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will host a free event on Thursday 22 November to examine the momentous social and environmental challenges that rural Australia is weathering.Senior Principal Research Fellow at Three Rivers UDRH Professor Deborah Warr (pictured), a sociologist, will host the public conversation with journalist and author Ms Gabrielle Chan about her new book, Rusted Off – Why country Australia is fed up (Vintage 2018).The public is invited to Cache – Store of Food, at 220 Baylis St, Wagga Wagga (5.30pm for a 6pm start) to hear Ms Chan explore the issues implied in the book’s subtitle, Why country Australia is fed up, with the examination expertly guided by Professor Warr.The conversation will continue with drinks and canapes, and copies of Rusted Off – Why country Australia is fed up will be available for purchase.While the event is free, please register online at Eventbrite for catering purposes: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-critical-conversations-series-meet-the-author-gabrielle-chan-tickets-51950968746Professor Warr is a sociologist who has recently resettled in Wagga Wagga from Melbourne where she worked at the University of Melbourne and was awarded a series of prestigious research fellowships.These included an ARC Future Fellowship (2013-17) which supports researchers to conduct research addressing areas of critical national importance. Her research focused on understanding the kinds of social infrastructure that promoted health and wellbeing in settings of locational disadvantage.Professor Warr has collaborated with epidemiologists to explore relationships between place and health and the social determinants of health, and with artists to explore the potential of art in promoting social and cultural exclusion. She has published widely on issues related to health, place-based stigma, arts practice, research ethics, and the potential of collaborative and engaged research. She relishes the new challenges presented in her role as the Senior Principal Research Fellow at Three Rivers UDRH at CSU.To find out more about Three Rivers UDRH go to https://science.csu.edu.au/UDRH

* 2018 PANDA Day promotes awareness of antenatal and perinatal mental health * Organisations offer a range of support options for mothers and fathers * It’s OK to not be OK, and to seek support and guidanceA Charles Sturt University (CSU) student is an advocate for greater awareness about and support for women and men experiencing mental health conditions arising from pregnancy.Mr Daniel Pye (pictured), a social work student in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Port Macquarie, has a special interest in perinatal and infant mental health and is involved in the 2018 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week (11-17 November) and the PANDA Day on Tuesday 13 November in Port Macquarie.“As a mature-age student and a father of five children, this issue is close to my heart,” Mr Pye said.“Perinatal anxiety and depression is more serious and common than many people realise.“I feel strongly that during pregnancy and after, there is a lack of educational supports for men, and new fathers can be impacted by stigmas and stereotypes. Mental health concerns can arise that affect everyone in the family.”He said the PANDA Day promotional activities will be located on the Town Green in Port Macquarie from 9.30am to 12pm to offer information and contact details about a range of support services.“There are many avenues for support available to people who might be anxious, depressed or struggling to cope,” Mr Pye said.“Early childhood nurses and other areas of the Local Health District will be present, and we will have educational materials from organisations such Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), and the Gidget Foundation.“We have information on face-to-face support that are available, as well as ‘tele’ supports, including men’s services that can be accessed through phone or skype services, such as SMS4Dads and Fathers Group Inc.”The PANDA Day will feature guest speakers, and several other non-government and health organizations will attend the event to promote healthy living, raise awareness, and provide advice about support options within the antenatal/perinatal period.Mr Pye’s work experience placement with the Mid North Coast Local Health District has been under the supervision of Ms Louise Finnegan who is Mid North Coast perinatal and infant mental health consultant and clinician.“My placement has focussed on men’s mental health issues where men are either ill or they are supporting a partner in the antenatal / perinatal periods, with the main focus being postnatal depressive illnesses,” Mr Pye said.“Becoming a parent is a huge transition in life, so if mothers and fathers feel they are struggling, I urge them to seek help and support, so they can support each other at this important time.“Men need to understand the signs of depression that their partner may be displaying, and it is just as important for men to look for the signs within themselves.“It’s OK to not be OK. Seek support, seek guidance about being a supportive partner and father.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga is turning unused food left behind by students into meals for the vulnerable with its annual Move Out Cook Up event held on 13 November 2018.Toby Perry, CSU Healthy Eating, Entertainment and Retail Services (CHEERS) coordinator, said when students move out of the University accommodation at the end of the year unused food is often left behind, creating an opportunity that they were putting to good use.“The Charles Sturt University Department of Residence Life in Wagga Wagga was collecting dry goods and sending them to charity for several years, but in 2016 the CHEERS catering team expanded on the idea by using the frozen or perishable foods left behind to create a variety of frozen TV style dinners to be given to a food bank,” Mr Perry said.Mr Perry said the food bank selected was OzHarvest, an organisation that distributes quality excess food to over 1300 charities nationally.“In the first year the event was held the CHEERS team supplied 222 meals, this grew to 348 the following year.“This year we’ve already exceeded our target by preparing 503 meals,” Mr Perry said.With the departure of students the catering kitchen falls quiet and Mr Perry said the Move Out Cook Up is a way to use their time to do something good for the community.“We also like to use it as a fun challenge between the chefs, to see who can make up the most varieties of meals from the many boxes of ingredients,” Mr Perry said.Mr Perry said the Move Out Cook Up brings together various areas of CSU and is a positive experience for everyone who gets involved.“The University reduces food waste going to landfill, we get people across departments collaborating with a common purpose,  our students are pleased to know that what they don’t want to take home is being used for people who need it and a lot of the work is already done for Oz Harvest, who only have to pick up all those finished meals from one spot and distribute them,” Mr Perry said.Mr Perry added it was satisfying way to work with and engage with the local community.“The event shows Charles Sturt University is living out its values and is having a positive impact on the lives of local and regional people, beyond just being a venue for higher education,” Mr Perry said.Photo credit: CSU CHEERS working with OzHarvest Riverina volunteers.