Charles Sturt University Alumni

Charles Sturt University Alumni Welcome to the Charles Sturt Alumni community! TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F Like our page to stay connected as you take on the world.

By graduating from Charles Sturt University, you have opened the doors to an inspiring global community – networks, advocates, supporters and peers. Think of this as your very own 240,000+ member cheer squad, for life. As alumni, you are part of a vibrant global community of people who are making a positive difference to the world around them, each with the shared experience of studying at Charles

Sturt. The Alumni Engagement Team facilitates relationships with alumni through an annual program of events, activities, benefits and communications. Community guidelines: https://social.csu.edu.au/connect

Charles Sturt University - TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018 (Australian University). CRICOS Provider: 00005F


Our History:

Charles Sturt University has a long and proud history in education which began in the late 1800's when both the Wagga Wagga and Bathurst campuses were Experimental Farms. These farms were established in response to the plight of farming in the colony of New South Wales and were involved in the notable experimentation, education and research which changed the face of New South Wales agriculture. Following this was a progression in education, from teachers' colleges, an agricultural college, colleges of advanced education and then to the establishment of Charles Sturt University in 1989. Being an Alumnus makes you a part of this remarkable history and brings links for life. Antecedent Institutions

Bathurst Teachers' College
Goulburn CAE
Goulburn Teachers' College
Mitchell CAE
Riverina CAE
Riverina - Murray IHE
Wagga Agricultural College
Wagga Wagga Teachers' College

⚕️One scholarship. One future doctor. Countless lives changed. For many aspiring regional and rural doctors, the long ro...
09/09/2026

⚕️One scholarship. One future doctor. Countless lives changed.

For many aspiring regional and rural doctors, the long road to medical school can feel out of reach.

That's why the new Lam Medical Scholarship, valued at $225,000, is set to make a life-changing difference for one future doctor studying at Charles Sturt's School of Rural Medicine.

Passionate about backing the next generation of regional doctors, the scholarship has been generously donated by Victor and Anita Lam and will ease the cost of:

📚 Study fees
🏠 Accommodation
🩺 Placement costs
🌎 Cost of living

Giving one future doctor the chance to fully focus on becoming the doctor their community needs.

We thank Victor and Anita for their incredible generosity!

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F

💙 Every child has the right to be safe.As we recognise National Child Protection Week (6–12 September 2026), Charles Stu...
08/09/2026

💙 Every child has the right to be safe.

As we recognise National Child Protection Week (6–12 September 2026), Charles Sturt University is making its Child Safety Awareness Module available to the wider community.

Developed in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, this short, self-paced online course provides practical knowledge and tools to help recognise, respond to, and prevent harm to children and young people.

Whether you work directly with children or not, child safety is everyone's responsibility.

Use the link in comments for more information or to enrol.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F.

🌈 Everyone deserves to feel like they belong at university.Yet research shows that q***r young Australians are 21% less ...
07/09/2026

🌈 Everyone deserves to feel like they belong at university.

Yet research shows that q***r young Australians are 21% less likely to feel a sense of belonging at their educational institution than their heterosexual peers.

The Charles Sturt Foundation and the Charles Sturt Ally Network are proud to host a special online conversation with Alex Greenwich MP in support of the Hon Michael Kirby AC Empowerment Scholarship, which helps LGBTQIA+ students at Charles Sturt University achieve their potential through education.

Join us for an inspiring discussion about belonging, courage, leadership and creating positive change.

The conversation will be hosted by Associate Professor Clifford Lewis, with Theo Stack, the inaugural recipient of the Hon Michael Kirby AC Empowerment Scholarship, sharing their personal story and the impact that scholarship support can have on the lives of LGBTQIA+ students.

Whether you're passionate about equity in education, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, or the power of philanthropy to create opportunity, we'd love you to join us.

Event details:
📅 Wednesday 9 September
⏰ 11.00am to 12.00pm (AEST)
🎟️ Free

Register via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F.

A L U M N I • A W A R D S🏅 Young Alumni✨ Dr Courtney Ierano – Pharmacy Researcher and Antimicrobial Stewardship LeaderCh...
03/09/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

🏅 Young Alumni
✨ Dr Courtney Ierano – Pharmacy Researcher and Antimicrobial Stewardship Leader

Charles Sturt University alumna Dr Courtney Ierano is helping tackle one of the world's most significant healthcare challenges: antimicrobial resistance.

🎓 After studying pharmacy at Charles Sturt's Wagga Wagga campus, Courtney developed a career spanning research, clinical practice, surveillance and national policy.

🔬 Today, she is a Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow and Antimicrobial Stewardship Project Officer with the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, working to improve antibiotic use and patient safety across Australia.

📊 Her research has contributed to national antimicrobial resistance strategies, clinical care standards and large-scale quality improvement programs that help healthcare organisations improve prescribing practices.

🌏 As a clinician-researcher, Courtney is helping shape approaches to safer antimicrobial use, with her work influencing healthcare systems both nationally and internationally.

"My time at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga gave me the opportunity to experience research, ask questions and develop the curiosity that has continued to shape my career," Courtney says.

Her advice for future health professionals?

"You do not need to have your whole career mapped out early. Focus on building skills, working with good people, and staying open to where those experiences might take you."

📖 Read Courtney's story via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F, 068869G.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Bayside Health Alfred

A L U M N I • A W A R D S🏅 First Nations Excellence✨ Craig Taylor – Community Leader and ChangemakerFor more than three ...
03/09/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

🏅 First Nations Excellence
✨ Craig Taylor – Community Leader and Changemaker

For more than three decades, proud Wiradjuri man Taylor has dedicated his career to creating opportunities for First Nations people and communities across education, health, housing, social services and government.

🎓 A proud Charles Sturt University graduate and the first person in his family to attend university, Craig says studying in Wagga Wagga gave him the confidence to contribute without leaving his identity behind.

"Charles Sturt was the cornerstone that shaped my life at a time when Aboriginal participation in higher education was far less visible."

🏥 Today, Craig serves as Deputy Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser with the Victorian Department of Health and holds several leadership and governance roles, including Chair of the Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service(AWAHS) and Director of the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office Board.

🤝 Across every role, he has remained focused on turning policy and strategy into practical outcomes that improve people's lives.

🌱 One of his proudest achievements has been helping guide the growth of AWAHS over the past 23 years, including the development of its first multi-jurisdictional Aboriginal aged care facility, designed and built by Aboriginal businesses to provide culturally safe care for Elders.

📚 Before his leadership career, Craig worked as a rouseabout, shearer, prison officer and teacher. Each experience reinforced his belief in community, resilience and the power of education to transform lives.

💬 "Whether I was shearing sheep, working behind prison walls, teaching in classrooms, supporting families as a social worker or leading major policy and governance reform, there has been one constant throughout my career: a desire to make a positive difference."

🚀 Named Charles Sturt University's 2026 Alumni of the Year for First Nations Excellence, Craig hopes his journey encourages others to back themselves and dream big.

💬 "There will always be people who tell you something can't be done. Listen respectfully, then go out and prove them wrong."

👏 Congratulations, Craig, on this well-deserved recognition and on a lifetime of service, leadership and community impact.

📖 Read Craig's story via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F, 068869G.

First Nations at Charles Sturt

A L U M N I • A W A R D S🏅 Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Creativity✨ Dr Matthew MuirDr Matthew Muir is helping redefi...
02/09/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

🏅 Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Creativity
✨ Dr Matthew Muir

Dr Matthew Muir is helping redefine what veterinary medicine can achieve.

A veterinarian, researcher and co-founder of Lyka Pet Food, Matthew is driving conversations around nutrition, disease prevention and sustainability.

🐾 Veterinarian
🚀 Entrepreneur
🔬 Researcher
🌏 Sustainability advocate

🐕 His work explores the connections between animal health, human wellbeing and environmental responsibility.

🔬 He has contributed to research in canine nutrition and the microbiome, helping advance knowledge of preventive health approaches.

🌱 Through Lyka, he is championing sustainable nutrition solutions that support long-term animal wellbeing.

🌏 His impact extends beyond companion animal care through conservation and wildlife work with organisations including the Kenya Wildlife Trust and Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

A graduate of Charles Sturt University's inaugural veterinary program, Matthew has built a career at the intersection of science, innovation and entrepreneurship.

💬 "The most fulfilling part of my work is helping veterinary patients live healthier lives while inspiring their families to think more deeply about their own health too."

The 2026 Charles Sturt Alumni Award for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Creativity recognises his leadership in creating healthier outcomes for animals while contributing to broader conversations about sustainable food systems and planetary health.

👏 Congratulations Matthew!

📖 Read Matthew's story via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F, 068869G.



Charles Sturt Ag, Environmental and Vet Sciences CSU Veterinary Science Alumni Community CSU Veterinary School Community and Alumni

A L U M N I • A W A R D S🏅 Social Impact✨ Dr Annie Fardell Hartley – Psychologist, Researcher and Mental Health Advocate...
02/09/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

🏅 Social Impact
✨ Dr Annie Fardell Hartley – Psychologist, Researcher and Mental Health Advocate

Charles Sturt alumna Dr Annie Fardell Hartley has dedicated more than 25 years to improving mental health outcomes for rural communities, first responders and people experiencing suicidal distress.

🎓 After studying psychology at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, Annie built a career spanning clinical practice, research, policy leadership and grassroots community advocacy.

💙 Her work has focused on su***de prevention, trauma and mental health, helping people navigate some of life's most challenging moments while influencing change at both community and systems levels.

🔬 Annie's Charles Sturt PhD explored how rural young people experiencing suicidality engage with social media, identifying opportunities for earlier intervention and support.

🤝 Alongside her professional roles, her current role being Principal Psychologist – Systems, for NSW Ambulance, Annie has founded and led community initiatives that promote connection, inclusion and hope across regional Australia.

"I think of it as lending people some of my hope until they find their own again," Annie says.

Reflecting on her Alumni Award finalist recognition, Annie says it acknowledges "the collective impact of the communities, colleagues, and lived experiences of people I have engaged and worked with."

📖 Read Annie's story via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F, 068869G.

R U OK? Three Rivers Department of Rural Health

A L U M N I • A W A R D S🏅 Research Excellence✨ Professor Stuart Blacksell – Global Health LeaderFrom regional Australia...
01/09/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

🏅 Research Excellence
✨ Professor Stuart Blacksell – Global Health Leader

From regional Australia to the front line of global infectious disease research, Professor Stuart Blacksell has spent more than three decades working to protect communities from emerging health threats and strengthen public health systems across Southeast Asia and beyond.

🔬 A Charles Sturt Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Laboratory Science) graduate, Stuart's career has taken him from laboratory science in Australia to international leadership in tropical microbiology, diagnostics, biosafety and public health.

🌏 Based at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in Thailand and appointed Professor of Tropical Microbiology at the University of Oxford in 2020, Stuart has played a key role in advancing disease detection, laboratory quality and health security initiatives worldwide.

📚 He is Co-Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Biosafety and Biosecurity. His contributions include more than 280 peer-reviewed publications and collaborations with governments, research institutions and international organisations to improve responses to tropical and infectious diseases.

🦠 Throughout his career, Stuart has helped develop diagnostic approaches for infectious diseases while supporting World Health Organization-aligned efforts to strengthen laboratory systems, biosafety and preparedness.

💡 For Stuart, the motivation has always been clear: using science to make a difference.

"Early experiences in microbiology showed me how laboratory science directly contributes to public health and disease prevention," he says. "The opportunity to apply science in ways that protect both individuals and communities has been a constant source of motivation."

🎓 Stuart credits Charles Sturt University with helping shape the practical, collaborative approach that has guided his career.

"Charles Sturt encouraged students to apply scientific principles to real-world problems, which helped build both confidence and professional capability," he says.

🚀 His advice for emerging scientists? Stay curious, embrace challenges and never stop learning.

"Most importantly, remember that behind every laboratory result, every diagnostic test and every public health intervention are real people whose lives may be improved by your work."

👏 Congratulations to Professor Stuart Blacksell, Charles Sturt University's 2026 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for Research Excellence.

📖 Read Stuart's story via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F.

A L U M N I • A W A R D S🏅 Professional Excellence✨ Jordan Emery – Chief Executive Officer, Ambulance VictoriaCharles St...
01/09/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

🏅 Professional Excellence
✨ Jordan Emery – Chief Executive Officer, Ambulance Victoria

Charles Sturt alumnus Jordan Emery has built a career around caring for people during some of their most vulnerable moments.

After beginning his career as a frontline paramedic, Jordan now leads more than 8,000 staff as Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance Victoria, helping deliver critical emergency healthcare to communities across the state. 🚑❤️

"The opportunity to care for others, especially when they are most vulnerable, is profound and humbling," Jordan says.

🤝 Throughout his career, Jordan has held clinical, leadership and executive roles with NSW Ambulance, Ambulance Tasmania and Ambulance Victoria, while also contributing to the future of the profession as an Adjunct Associate Professor and Board Director of The Council of Ambulance Authorities.

🌏 His impact extends beyond Australia's borders. In 2016, he worked in global mental health, supporting community mental health services in East Africa, an experience that continues to shape his leadership today.

🏅 Jordan's outstanding contribution to emergency healthcare was recognised in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours when he received the Ambulance Service Medal.

🎓 A graduate of Charles Sturt University's paramedicine program, Jordan credits the University's practical learning experiences and industry-experienced academic staff with helping shape his early career.

Today, he remains committed to supporting first responders and ensuring patients and communities receive the highest standard of care when they need it most.

💬 "Being a paramedic is a wonderful privilege. People ask for your help, trust you completely and let you into their homes and lives when they are often at their most vulnerable."

👏 Congratulations, Jordan, recipient of the 2026 Charles Sturt Alumni Award for Professional Excellence.

📖 Read Jordan's story via the link in the comments.

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F, 068869G.

🚑❤️🏆

A L U M N I • A W A R D SJoin us in congratulating the outstanding recipients of our 2026 Charles Sturt Alumni Awards!🏅 ...
31/08/2026

A L U M N I • A W A R D S

Join us in congratulating the outstanding recipients of our 2026 Charles Sturt Alumni Awards!

🏅 Professional Excellence
✨ Jordan Emery – CEO, Ambulance Victoria

🔬 Research Excellence
🧪 Professor Stuart Blacksell – Infectious Disease Researcher & Biosafety Expert

🖤 First Nations Excellence
🌿 Craig Taylor – Deputy Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser

💡 Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Creativity
🐾 Dr Matthew Muir – Veterinarian, Entrepreneur & Pet Health Innovator

🤝 Social Impact
💙 Dr Annie Fardell Hartley – Psychologist, Suicidologist & Mental Health Leader

🌟 Young Alumni
💊 Dr Courtney Ierano – Antimicrobial Stewardship Researcher & Pharmacist

The Alumni Awards celebrate graduates who embody the values of Charles Sturt University - leadership, innovation, excellence and social impact. Through their remarkable achievements, these outstanding alumni are creating positive change in healthcare, research, communities, industry and beyond.

Together, they carry forward the spirit of yindyamarra winhanganha - the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in.

Congratulations to all our winners!👏

👉Learn more about their inspiring stories and impact: https://alumni.csu.edu.au/meet-our-alumni/alumni-awards

TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F, 068869G.

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