Fifth-year Charles Sturt University students Gabrielle Goldsworthy, Lauren McIlveen, Kym Grundy and Jackson Holmes with the Hon Kristy McBain MP (centre). Photo: Supplied.
Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain has applauded Charles Sturt University for its innovation in agricultural and scientific advancement.
Ms McBain said she visited the campus earlier this month to talk to veterinary science students about workforce issues and how to best address the shortcomings in that space.
During her visit, Ms McBain toured the university’s Rhizolysimeter, Global Digital Farm, Veterinary Clinical Centre and Equine Isolation Facility and the National Life Sciences Hub (NaLSH), and heard from leading researchers in areas such as biosecurity, grains and parasitology.
“The Wagga Wagga region has a proud history of leading research into how we can boost the productivity, sustainability and resilience of our growers,” Minister McBain said.
“This is an industry that touches every community and underpins our national economy, which is why it was fantastic to see the groundbreaking work underway at Charles Sturt – work that will strengthen and diversify the future of our food production and agricultural sector.”
Charles Sturt University Head of Government Relations Ms Samantha Beresford said it was a pleasure to welcome Minister McBain to the university to witness firsthand the nation-leading work underway.
“Charles Sturt University is a leader in innovation across a range of critical industries, but our work in agriculture and science is particularly notable,” Ms Beresford said.
“It was wonderful to be able to showcase this to Minister McBain through our NaLSH and interact with our Global Digital Farm technologies in Wagga Wagga and help facilitate meaningful conversations around how we can leverage the university’s work to benefit the regions into the future.”
Ms Bresford said it was important to address workforce shortages with Ms McBain and that CSU did its best to ensure its graduates found work.
“These individuals, upon completion of their degree, are all eager to work in rural mixed practices and embody what Charles Sturt does best – producing graduates with hands-on experience who are committed to the prosperity of regional Australia,” Ms Beresford said.
“Charles Sturt is a leader in scientific research and some examples of this were shared with Minister McBain, including the impact of sorghum-derived phenolic compounds on cancer development pathways, using ‘big data’ to predict rice quality prior to harvest and even research around parasites of Australian native ducks.”
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