A new proposal for Australian nurses to take on some roles previously carried out by General Practitioners is a step in the right direction but is too cautious and timid.

That is according to Professor of Nursing at Central Queensland University, William Lauder, who has previously tipped that nurses will take on many of the functions of GPs in remote and rural Australia.

State school teachers from the Gladstone region attended a workshop on Wednesday to learn more about implementing a new technology curriculum in the classroom. The workshop was held at Central Queensland University Gladstone campus and was facilitated by current and former CQU staff.

Central Queensland University Mackay hosted Queensland’s first Festival of Innovation on Wednesday.

Representatives from AusIndustry, Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (MWREDC) and various innovative agencies offered advice to businesses interested in emerging technologies.

CQU Gold Coast International Campus has celebrated Chinese New Year with a lion dance and lunch for students at its Marine Parade facility.

The Hong Seng Lion Dance Troupe from Brisbane entertained Chinese, Korean, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese and Australian students and staff members, in what has become a campus tradition.

CQU Melbourne International Campus staff and students are keen to celebrate relevant cultural events, since about 40 nationalities are represented at the Lonsdale Street facility.

One such celebration was the Chinese New Year, a time for putting aside disagreements, for renewing acquaintances and for exchanging gifts and goodwill messages.

CQU sporting clubs will battle it out on the golf greens as they compete in the CQU Student Association Golf Championship.

The event, to be held at the Yeppoon Golf Course on Saturday, February 14, will be used to launch the seasons of the winter sporting clubs as well act as a social event for the 10 current affiliates of the CQU Student Association.

Comparative data has been released from surveys undertaken by 36 Australian and New Zealand university libraries over the past three years.

Of the 16 libraries surveyed in 2003, CQU was one of only three not to record a client expectation/performance gap of greater than 1.

Thirty-two year 10 girls from throughout Central Queensland will attend the CQU inaugural Girls in Maths, Science and Technology Summer School to be held at the Rockhampton campus from Monday February 9 to Friday February 13.

The aim of the summer school is to encourage girls to explore career opportunities in maths, science and technology.

Staff from Gladstone’s Comalco Alumina Refinery (CAR) visited Central Queensland University Gladstone this week to learn more about their local university.

Gladstone head of campus, Associate Professor Robert Prater said the visit was arranged by the two organisations to give CAR staff the opportunity to tour the campus and find out what the university could do for them, their staff and families.

CQU Bundaberg-based researcher Dr Karl Neuenfeldt has contributed to a new book and CD-set on the roots of Australia's folk music, called 'Verandah Music'.

Dr Neuenfeldt contributed as a musician/producer and supplied explanatory text for three of the featured songs, 'Kores of Torres Strait', 'Jacky Jacky' and 'Forty Fathoms'.