Statistical Society of Australia upcoming events

National Speaker Series by NSW Branch: An Invitation to Exoplanet Science for Statisticians (19 Aug 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:00 GMT

The New South Wales Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia invites you to a presentation titled "An Invitation to Exoplanet Science for Statisticians" delivered by A/Professor Benjamin Pope, Macquarie University

Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026

Times (AEST): 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Venue: UNSW Sydney - Electrical Engineering G23

Format: Hybrid

Online attendance: Zoom details will be provided in the registration confirmation.

Abstract: An Invitation to Exoplanet Science for Statisticians

Exoplanet science has revealed over the last decade that nearly every star hosts a planetary system. We are now beginning to search for Earth-sized planets, and to observe planetary atmospheres and their composition - and software and data analysis are as important as hardware in pushing the limits of this science. I will give an overview of some major topics in exoplanet science of interest to a statistical audience, with little physics background assumed: first, the application of Gaussian Processes in modelling the correlated noise processes in astrophysical time series; and second, the inverse problem of deconvolving sharp images of faint planets next to bright stars, demanding machine-learned "digital twins" of telescope optics and electronics, and modern Bayesian sampling tools.

Presenter Bio: A/Professor Benjamin Pope, Macquarie University

Benjamin Pope is an Associate Professor at Macquarie University. He researches extrasolar planets - planets around other stars - and develops and applies new data science approaches for detecting and characterizing them.

Event Schedule :

5:30 PM – Refreshments
6:00 PM – Presentation and Q&A
7:00 PM – Dinner

For any questions, please contact Dr. Tom Stindl - t.stindl@unsw.edu.au

SSA Vic & Tas and Monash Statistics and Analytics Club Panel Discussion (20 Aug 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:30:00 GMT

The Victorian and Tasmanian Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia and the Monash Statistics and Analytics Club (MSAC) are holding a joint in-person event on Thursday 20th August 5:30pm AEST in Melbourne with a panel discussion about careers in statistics.

This free event is open to SSA and MSAC members, but registration on this page is only for SSA members.

Pannelists

Ekaterina Artyukhova

Ekaterina’s career has spanned market research, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, higher education and sports & leisure, all connected by a passion for using data to solve real-world problems. Her career began in market research before moving into data integration at Kraft Foods & Cadbury Russia and later building reporting systems in a fast-growing Turkish company. After completing a Master of Data Science at Monash University, she worked there as a Reporting Analyst in the Faculty of IT. Today, she is part of the E15 team at Levy Australia, supporting data projects for the Australian Open and other large sporting and music events.

Dr Ryan Covey

Ryan is a statistician with the Methodology and Data Science Division of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, where he works on research and statistical production in the areas of survey design and estimation, with a special focus on multi-source data. Ryan began his current role in 2022, after finishing a PhD in econometrics at Monash University on the relationship between sampling variability and predictive accuracy for forecast combinations and ensemble methods. Ryan also taught mathematics and data science as a teaching associate while completing his PhD. Prior to that, he held several roles at Telstra in data science, telecommunications and cyber security.

Dr Lynn Wu

Lynn is a Senior Data Scientist at the Department of Transport and Planning, where she applies statistics, machine learning and spatial analytics to support transport planning and decision-making. She holds a PhD in remote sensing and machine learning, with research focused on precision agriculture.

Dr Alan Pearse

Alan is an early career researcher in statistics. He recently completed a PhD in statistics at the University of Wollongong (conferred Feb. 2025), and he is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Melbourne. His research interests include environmental statistics, spatial statistics, copulas, and some aspects of information theory.

SSA VIC & TAS : Joint MelbURN and SSA Victoria Meeting 2026 (25 Aug 2026)

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Join The Victorian and Tasmanian Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia and the Melbourne Users of R Network (MelbURN) for a relaxed evening of networking, practical learning and discussion on R and artificial intelligence.

The evening will feature Dr Tony Liu, who will provide a short introduction to R and Posit Assistant, focusing on ways to use the tool effectively. The session will be followed by an open microphone, with up to four participants sharing five minute overviews of projects they are currently working on.

Date: Tuesday 25 August 2026

Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Venue: Performance Space, Library at the Dock 107 Victoria Harbour

Promenade Docklands

Registration:

https://www.meetup.com/melburn-melbourne-users-of-r-network/events/315784432/

Presenter Bio:

Dr Tony Liu is the featured speaker for this joint MelbURN and SSA Victoria meeting. He will present an introductory session on R and Posit Assistant, demonstrating practical ways the tool can support and enhance work in R.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Develop an introductory understanding of how Posit Assistant can support work in R.
Explore practical ways to incorporate AI-assisted tools into an R workflow.
Hear short examples of projects currently being undertaken across the R and statistical communities.
Connect with fellow statisticians, R users and data practitioners for future discussion and collaboration.

Event Program :

6:00 pm–6:45 pm — Networking and refreshments

Start the evening by connecting with fellow attendees over pizza, sandwiches and soft drinks.

6:45 pm–7:00 pm — Welcome and announcements

7:00 pm–7:30 pm — Presentation and Q&A

Dr Tony Liu will introduce R and Posit Assistant, followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion.

7:30 pm–8:00 pm — Open-microphone session

Up to four participants will each have five minutes to share an overview of a project they are currently working on. SSA members are particularly encouraged to participate.

Additional Information:

Please note that catering can accommodate vegetarian and non-vegetarian options only.

This event is supported by the R Consortium through the R User Group Support Program.

For further information, please contact Hien Nguyen at h.nguyen5@latrobe.edu.au

Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up (26 Aug 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Come along with your thinking cap, maybe a problem, and some lunch!

The Statistical Consulting Network invites you to their monthly online meet-up, a virtual lunchtime meeting where statisticians help each other out with problems that they aren’t sure how to deal with.

This virtual meeting is held on Zoom at lunchtime on the last Wednesday of each month, 12:00 - 1:00 PM (AEST). They start each meet-up with announcements, or occasionally a special topic discussion, then discuss problems that attendees have brought along with them.

Zoom link

Password: 543284

Calendar invite: Stats Consulting Network meeting.ics

2026 Dates

Wednesday 25 February 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 March 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 29 April 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday 29 July 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 26 August 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 30 September 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 28 October 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 November 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT

The Statistical Consulting Network also has a Slack workspace where members of the consulting network can communicate between meetings, or post problems or relevant materials they would like to discuss during a meeting.

Slack Workspace link

2026 SSA Annual General Meeting and Census Futures Panel (26 Aug 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Join us for the 2026 Statistical Society of Australia Annual General Meeting, followed by a panel discussion featuring distinguished experts on “The 2026 Census is (partially) done—what’s in store for 2031?”

Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026

Times (AEST): 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Annual General Meeting: 1:00 pm–1:20 pm
Panel discussion: 1:20 pm–2:00 pm

Format: Online via Zoom: The Zoom link will be provided in your registration confirmation.

Title: "The 2026 Census is (partially) done, what's in store for 2031?”

Abstract:

Following our AGM we will be holding a panel session on the future of the Australian Census. With 2026 Census night behind us - but still much work to be done before results are released - planning is already underway for 2031.

Join Professor James Brown OBE, Professor of Official Statistics and Head of Mathematical Sciences University of Technology Sydney and Georgia Chapman, ABS Director, 2031 Census in conversation with Teresa Dickinson PSM, as we explore how and why Censuses are changing internationally, what changes the ABS is considering for 2031 and what they could explore for the future. We will be considering aspects such as how content of our Census continues to evolve and the growing uses and potential of administrative data to enhance traditional Censuses and provide a pathway to new ways of producing Census-like data.

Presenter Bio's

Professor James Brown, OBE

James has nearly 30 years of experience collaborating with national statistical agencies, particularly in measuring population census coverage and adjusting census outputs for coverage errors. His work has included collaborations on the UK censuses for 2001 and 2011, Scotland’s census for 2022, and New Zealand’s census for 2018 and 2023. He is the current chair of National Records Scotland’s Methods Steering Group for census, a member of ABS Methodology Advisory Committee, a member of ATO’s Tax Gap Panel, and working with Office for National Statistics (UK) on its transformed labour force survey program. More widely, he collaborates across disciplines, including his work with Health+Law on the first legal needs survey for those living with HIV and Hepatitis B.

With his extensive knowledge of Census taking and methodology James is well placed to provide expert commentary on likely and desirable future paths for the Australian Census.

Georgia Chapman

Georgia Chapman has more than 18 years working on official statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the 2031 Census is the fifth Census she has worked on. Georgia played a key role in establishing the 2026 Census Program and also led the content and topic development process where sexual orientation and gender data will be collected for the first time. Her experience spans the full Census cycle, including content review and questionnaire design, community engagement, inclusive strategies and field operations. She has also supported the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in preparing for its 2027 Census, assessing the Census design and readiness for delivery. Other notable roles include leading work to enable all eligible Australians to participate in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey and as Director of Inclusion for the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Georgia’s breadth of experience leading diverse aspects of the Australian Census over 5 Census cycles, and her current responsibility to drive multi-disciplinary work developing options and recommendations for key aspects of the 2031 Census put her in the box seat to talk to this topic.

Teresa Dickinson, PSM

Teresa is now semi retired, with her most recent full-time role being a Deputy Australian Statistician at the ABS, where she led the 2021 Census of Population and Housing and early design work for the 2026 Census. She also had responsibility for ABS’ work to expand the breath and use of linked administrative data, including seeing this data more widely used to support Census 2021. When not being the SSA Secretary Teresa now works with statistical offices in the Asia-Pacific region to improve their leadership, governance and statistical programmes.

National Speaker Series - SSA WA Branch: Arbitrary Inflation in Fractional Models (Prof. Mark Harris) (8 Sep 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The Western Australian Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia invites you to a presentation titled "Arbitrary Inflation in Fractional Models" delivered by Prof. Mark Harris, Curtin University. This meeting is also part of the National Speaker Series initiative and will therefore be livestreamed.

Date: Tuesday 8 September 2026

Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm (AWST)

Venue: Cheryl Praeger Lecture Room, The University of Western Australia.

Format: Hybrid (Please register to get the videostream details)

Abstract: Arbitrary Inflation in Fractional Models

The analysis of subjective probabilities, that are fractional or share variables by definition, is becoming increasingly widespread in both economics and the social sciences in general. To avoid nonsensical predictions, empirical predictions for such variables must respect the fact that they are necessarily bounded on the 0 − 1 (or, 0 − 100, for percentage-type responses) interval. In addition, where the response variable of interest corresponds to a self-report on a fixed scale, individuals are often drawn to particular focal-point responses, resulting in distinct spikes in the empirical distribution. In this paper, we suggest a simple model that accounts for all of the nuances of such data, including its fractional and bounded nature as well as arbitrary inflation at such focal-points (which may appear at any point in the interval and are highly likely at the endpoints). We estimate our model using data drawn from the Italian Survey of Income and Wealth relating to an individual’s subjective marginal propensity to consume (MPC) and also US data from the Health and Retirement Survey concerning subjective notions of several adverse health outcomes.

Presenter Bio: Professor Mark Harris

Mark joined Curtin University in 2011 and is currently a John Curtin Distinguished Professor in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance. Prior to joining Curtin, he held teaching and research appointments at Monash University and the University of Melbourne. His research spans applied economics and econometrics, with a particular focus on health and labour economics, trade, household finances and firm performance. Mark is a current member of the Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts; served on the panel for the most recent Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) exercise; and was a member of the Economics Panel for the 2025 ABDC Journal Quality List review. He has more than 100 scholarly publications, including in leading journals such as the Journal ofEconometrics, European Economic Review, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking and the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A.

Refreshments and Dinner

Members and visitors are invited to mingle over wine and cheese from 5:30 PM onwards at the venue. Following the meeting, all are invited to dine at a nearby restaurant. Visitors are welcome.

Venue details

The Cheryl Praeger Lecture Room is located on the ground floor of the Mathematics building at The University of Western Australia. Its entrance is on the northern side of the building. See: UWA Maps, Google Maps.

Parking is free on the UWA Crawley campus after 5:00 PM. A convenient place to park is Car Park 51, accessible from Fairway Entrance 1.

For further information please contact the WA Branch Secretary: ssa.wa.secretary@gmail.com

SSA Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Section Webinar: Modelling spatial transcriptomics: from flexible cell-type deconvolution to multi-scale spatial factor analysis (9 Sep 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 02:00:00 GMT

The Biostatistics & Bioinformatics section of the Statistical Society of Australia invites members to a presentation titled "Modelling spatial transcriptomics: from flexible cell-type deconvolution to multi-scale spatial factor analysis" delivered by A/Professor Heejung Shim, University of Sydney.

Date: Wednesday 9 September 2026

Time: 12:00 pm (AEST)

Format: Online via Zoom. Details provided upon registration

Abstract: Modelling spatial transcriptomics: from flexible cell-type deconvolution to multi-scale spatial factor analysis

Spatial transcriptomics enables the study of gene expression within its spatial context, but introduces key statistical challenges, including mixed cellular composition and complex spatial structure. In this talk, I present two complementary modelling approaches. First, I introduce FlexiDeconv, a cell-type deconvolution method based on a modified Latent Dirichlet Allocation framework. A key feature of this method is its flexible use of reference information, allowing the model to balance prior information from scRNA-seq with signals from observed spatial data, and to adapt when the reference is incomplete or mismatched, a common challenge in practice. I then present WaveFactor, a wavelet-based Bayesian sparse factor model that captures spatial gene expression patterns across multiple spatial scales, enabling the detection of both fine and broad spatial patterns. In addition, WaveFactor can incorporate gene-set information to guide factor inference, while allowing for uncertainty and potential errors in these annotations. Together, these methods illustrate how flexible modelling of prior information and multi-scale modelling of spatial structure can improve our ability to extract biologically meaningful signals from spatial transcriptomics data.

Presenter Bio: A/Professor Heejung Shim, University of Sydney.

A/Professor Heejung Shim is an applied statistician with a focus on statistical bioinformatics and an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. Her research develops statistical and computational methods for multi-omics data analysis. She is currently extending her research into bioinformatics for drug discovery and therapeutic development. She completed a BSc in Mathematics, with a double major in Computer Science and Engineering, at POSTECH in Korea, and a PhD in Statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in US, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago. Before joining the University of Sydney, she was a Group Leader at Melbourne Integrative Genomics and the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Melbourne, and a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems. Prior to relocating to Australia, she was a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at Purdue University.

For further information, please contact Alberto Nettel Aguirre at anettela@alumni.ucalgary.ca

Data Science SIG Monthly Catch Up (10 Sep 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The Data Science SIG's monthly catch up is a place to share any ideas, challenges, cool tech, or anything else data science-related.

Each month we'll come with something new to discuss, but anyone is welcome to lead the discussion. Just let the DSSIG committee know!

The monthly meeting catch ups will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 2:00 - 3:00 PM (AEST).

Zoom link

2026 Dates

Thursday 11 June 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 9 July 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 13 August 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 10 September 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 8 October 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEDT
Thursday 12 November 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEDT

SSA SA Branch :2026 Early Career Statistician Event (14 Sep 2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Are you a student, recent graduate or someone interested in pursuing a career in statistics?

The South Australian Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia invites you to hear from professional statisticians working across research, government and industry. Speakers will share insights into their careers, day-to-day work and potential employment opportunities in the field of statistics.

Date: Monday 14th September 2026

Time: 5:30 pm

Venue: In-person and online

In-person: Barr Smith South Room 2052, Adelaide University, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA.
Online : Zoom/Teams link will be sent to the registration email

Invited speakers:

Representative(s) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Chris Davies, Lead Biostatistician, ANZDATA Registry, SAHMRI
Professor Nicole Pratt, Professor of Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology, Adelaide University
Patrick Lim, Director of Statistical Consulting, Resolutum Global

Timetable:

5:30 pm - 6:00 pm - Welcome and Refreshments

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Talks & Q&A

Register via Eventbrite:

2026 Early Career Statistician Career Event Tickets, Monday, September 14 • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Eventbrite

RSVP by Friday, 11 September 2026

For enquiries, please contact Andie Xu at andie.xu@sahmri.com and Rui Chua at rui.chua@sa.gov.au

Data Visualisation Competition in a Box: A Webinar by the Statistical Computing and Visualisation section (18 Sep 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:30:00 GMT

The Statistical Computing and Visualisation section of the Statistical Society of Australia proudly presents a webinar titled "Data Visualisation Competition in a Box"

Date: Friday, 18 September 2026

Time: 12:30 - 1:30 pm (AEST)

Online via Zoom: details provided upon registration

Abstract:

Since 2024, the ANU Statistical Support Network has run an annual Data Visualisation Competition inviting research students to submit a graph from their own research alongside a short written explanation of what it shows and why it matters. The format is simple, low-cost to run, and has proven a popular and effective way to get students thinking critically about how they communicate data — while giving statistical consulting units a fun, visible way to engage with the research community. In this webinar, Professor Alice Richardson (Lead, ANU Statistical Support Network) will share the "recipe" behind the competition: how it's structured, judged, and promoted, what's worked well (and what hasn't), and how other institutions or SSA branches could set up their own version. Whether you're part of a university consulting unit, a statistical society branch, or simply curious about running a low-effort, high impact outreach activity, this session will give you everything you need to take the competition and run with it.

Presenter Bios - Professor Alice Richardson, ANU

Alice Richardson is a biostatistician at the Australian National University, where she leads the Statistical Support Network (formerly Director of the Statistical Consulting Unit from 2019). She completed her PhD at ANU on robust methods of estimation for multilevel linear models, after studying at Victoria University of Wellington. She spent twenty years teaching statistics at the University of Canberra before joining ANU's National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health as a biostatistician in 2016. Her research spans robust statistics, data mining methods, applications to large health datasets, and statistics education.

The Personal Journey of Richard Jarrett: A Webinar by Early Career & Student Statisticians Network and History Standing Committee of SSA (22 Sep 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This series of webinars, a collaboration between the Early Career & Student Statisticians Network (ECSSN) and the History Standing Committee of the Statistical Society of Australia, explores the personal journeys of senior Australian statisticians who have made a significant impact.

Through these conversations, we delve into their career paths, challenges, and achievements, offering valuable lessons and inspiration for early career and student statisticians.

Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026

Time: 2:00pm - 3:15pm (AEST)

Format: Online via Zoom. Details provided upon registration

Abstract:

The interview of Richard for up to 40 minutes, will be conducted by Murray Cameron. There will then be a Q & A by a member of the ECSSN.

Bio: Richard Jarrett

Richard was born in Adelaide. He undertook his secondary schooling at Prince Alfred College and was dux of the school. He undertook undergraduate studies at Adelaide University (1965-68) where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science with first class honours. Consequently, he was awarded a scholarship to do undertake PhD studies at Imperial College, London which he successfully completed.

Richard’s career has been in statistics, but he has worked in many different organisations. On returning to Australia after his PhD studies, he worked for the CSIRO Division of Mathematics and Statistics for 15 years finishing as a Principal Research Scientist, then at the Melbourne University for 4 years as Director of the Statistical Consulting Centre, then for 9 years as Professor of Statistics at Adelaide University, where he taught students in mathematics, science and engineering. He moved back to CSIRO in 2000 working as a Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Division of Mathematical and Information Sciences in Melbourne for 12 Years. Since 2014, he has been working as a Research Fellow in the biometry unit within the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide.

Richard has had a rich and varied career but with a strong practical emphasis. He once described his role as a CSIRO statistician as a 'problem solver who uses data to get to the heart of a problem'. For example, an extrusion process turns large rolls of rubber into windscreen wipers- why does it produce so many defective parts? The solution required identifying the key issues with a team of scientists and engineers, running experiments, then analysing and interpreting the data to uncover the causes. Richard considers the fun of being a statistician is to work with teams to solve a variety of challenging problems.

He was awarded Life Membership of the Statistical Society. He has undertaken many SSA roles including President (1989-91), President of Victorian Branch (1983-84), Chair of the Accreditation Committee (2002-03), and Associate Editor of the Australian Journal of Statistics (1984-89).

He has been invited to give a number of the Society’s named lectures including the Belz Lecture in 1987 and the Knibbs Lecture in 2006.

The interview will be conducted by Murray Cameron who worked with Richard at CSIRO for many years.

Why Attend?

Learn from Experience: Richard's journey offers rich insights into building a career in statistics while leading innovations in education.
Be Inspired: Discover how one person’s passion for teaching and statistical thinking can influence thousands across disciplines and borders.
Contribute to History: This webinar will be recorded, with a transcript prepared to support the History Standing Committee’s work in documenting the evolution of statistics education in Australia.

Who Should Attend?

Early career statisticians
Students aspiring to work in statistics or related fields
Anyone interested in the history and future of statistics education

Click here to view recordings and transcripts for previous webinars in the series.

Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up (30 Sep 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Come along with your thinking cap, maybe a problem, and some lunch!

Zoom link

Password: 543284

Calendar invite: Stats Consulting Network meeting.ics

2026 Dates

Wednesday 25 February 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 March 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 29 April 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday 29 July 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 26 August 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 30 September 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 28 October 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 November 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT

Slack Workspace link

Data Science SIG Monthly Catch Up (8 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:00 GMT

The Data Science SIG's monthly catch up is a place to share any ideas, challenges, cool tech, or anything else data science-related.

Each month we'll come with something new to discuss, but anyone is welcome to lead the discussion. Just let the DSSIG committee know!

The monthly meeting catch ups will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 2:00 - 3:00 PM (AEST).

Zoom link

2026 Dates

Thursday 11 June 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 9 July 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 13 August 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 10 September 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 8 October 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEDT
Thursday 12 November 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEDT

Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up (28 Oct 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Come along with your thinking cap, maybe a problem, and some lunch!

Zoom link

Password: 543284

Calendar invite: Stats Consulting Network meeting.ics

2026 Dates

Wednesday 25 February 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 March 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 29 April 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday 29 July 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 26 August 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 30 September 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 28 October 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 November 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT

Slack Workspace link

Data Science SIG Monthly Catch Up (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 03:00:00 GMT

The Data Science SIG's monthly catch up is a place to share any ideas, challenges, cool tech, or anything else data science-related.

Each month we'll come with something new to discuss, but anyone is welcome to lead the discussion. Just let the DSSIG committee know!

The monthly meeting catch ups will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 2:00 - 3:00 PM (AEST).

Zoom link

2026 Dates

Thursday 11 June 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 9 July 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 13 August 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 10 September 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 8 October 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEDT
Thursday 12 November 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AEDT

SSA ACT Branch: Deep Learning and Computer Vision in R: A Practical Introduction (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 02:30:00 GMT

Join the SSA ACT Branch for a practical, hands-on workshop, Deep Learning and Computer Vision in R: A Practical Introduction, presented by Dr Patrick (Weihao) Li from the Australian National University (ANU).

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Date : Tuesday 17th November & Wednesday 18th November 2026

Time: 1.30pm to 5.00pm on both days

Format: Online via Zoom.

Zoom access details will be provided in your registration confirmation.

About the Workshop

Deep learning has transformed how we extract insights from images, powering applications across diverse fields such as medical imaging, precision agriculture, autonomous systems, and industrial inspection. While these techniques are increasingly important in modern research, many applied statisticians are unfamiliar with the key concepts and tools behind deep learning and computer vision.

Presenter's Bio - Dr Patrick (Weihao) Li, ANU

Dr Patrick (Weihao) Li is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National University, working on the Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) project. He holds a PhD in Statistics from Monash University. His research spans machine learning, data visualization, statistical modelling, and computer vision, with a focus on developing computational methods for analysing and interpreting complex data. His current research applies these methods to agricultural, biological, and public health applications. Within the AAGI project, he investigates the interpretation, robustness, and uncertainty of Vision Transformer-based models for automated canola blackleg severity quantification, and contributes to the development of new computational frameworks for fitting complex linear mixed models. He has also contributed to computer vision projects in IVF embryo assessment and video-based food safety monitoring using object detection and vision-language models

Key Learnings:

This hands-on workshop introduces the fundamentals of deep learning and its applications in computer vision, with a focus on accessibility for R users. We will begin with a high-level overview of deep learning and neural networks, building intuition for the key components of modern deep learning models, including layers, activation functions, model training, and optimisation. The workshop will then introduce core computer vision techniques, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for image analysis and more recent approaches such as Vision Transformers (ViTs), which have become increasingly important in modern computer vision applications. Through practical examples, participants will explore how deep learning models can be applied to tasks such as:

Image classification (e.g. assigning images to different categories)
Object detection (e.g. identifying and locating objects within images)
Image segmentation (e.g. identifying and delineating objects or regions at the pixel level)

All workshop activities will be conducted in R, with the reticulate package used to access Python-based deep learning tools. Participants will set up a local Python environment using conda and install the required deep learning libraries before the workshop. Setup scripts and a test script will be provided in advance to help participants verify that their environment is ready.

Participant Requirements

Participants should:

Have a working R and RStudio installation, and complete the required environment setup before the workshop (detailed setup instructions and a test script will be provided in advance)
Be comfortable with basic R tasks (e.g. loading data, using functions, navigating RStudio)
Have familiarity with basic statistical concepts (e.g. regression, classification, and model evaluation)
Be connected via Zoom for workshop participation

Desirable

No prior experience with deep learning, computer vision, or Python is required
Some familiarity with matrices, linear algebra, or optimization concepts may help with understanding key ideas, but is not necessary
Experience with statistical modelling or data analysis workflows is beneficial

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations received prior to two weeks before the event will be refunded, minus the Stripe processing fee (1.75% + $0.30 per transaction) and an SSA administration fee of $20.

From then on, no part of the registration fee will be refunded. However, registrations are transferable within the same organisation. Please advise any changes to events@statsoc.org.au.

ADSN Pre-Conference Workshop: Modern Data Linkage Methods and Implementation Using Splink (25 Nov 2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Pre-Conference Workshop

Linked data assets, such as Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA), are a rich source of information, allowing the analysis of interconnected systems such as healthcare, government services, education, and taxation. But the creation of these assets is not always straightforward, as often there is not a deterministic way of identifying individuals across datasets, such as with a unique identifier. Probabilistic data linkage methods can help resolve this problem by comparing fields common across datasets and give an estimate of how likely two records belong to the same individual.

Join us for a separate one-day pre-conference workshop on probabilistic linking using the Python package Splink, presented by Aymon Wuolanne and Daniel Fearnley from the Data Linking Methodology section in the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The workshop will cover the theory underpinning probabilistic linking, as well as how to perform a basic Splink linkage. It will also explore advanced techniques for customising Splink for specific use cases. No prior background in probabilistic linking theory is required, although a basic understanding of Python is recommended.

The workshop will be held day before the Australian Data Science Network Conference and is open to everyone, not just conference delegates.

Please note that workshop registration is separate from conference registration.

Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026

Times (AEDT): 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Schedule will be released closer to the date)

Venue: ABS House, Belconnen, ACT

Format: In person

Key Learnings:

Participants will come away with an understanding of the fundamental methods underlying probabilistic linkage and how to perform linkages using Splink.

Presenter Bio:

Daniel Fearnley

Daniel Fearnley joined the ABS in 2011, and has spent the last 3 years in Data Linking Methodology where he has led the team responsible for assessing the feasibility of the probabilistic linkage tool Splink, and the transition to using Splink as the default linking tool for all ABS person-level linkages. His team won the 2026 APS Data Award in Data System and Innovation for their work on Splink. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys cooking and running (because he likes cooking) and earlier this year he and his wife watched every game of the FIFA World Cup.

Aymon Wuolanne

Aymon Wuolanne joined the ABS as a graduate in 2022 and is currently a methodologist in Data Linking Methodology. In 2025 he won the Ken Foreman Award for his work on building the Person Linkage Spine using Splink, and was a member of the team that won the 2026 APS Data Award in Data System and Innovation for their work on Splink. Outside of work, Aymon enjoys walking, reading, video games and running much slower than Daniel.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds: Cancellations made more than two weeks before the event are eligible for a refund, minus: Stripe processing fee: 1.75% + $0.30 per transaction and SSA administration fee: $20. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within two weeks of the event.

Transfer of Registration: Registrations can be transferred to another person within the same organisation at any time. Please notify changes via email: events@statsoc.org.au

For more information, please contact Ben Harrap : benjamin.harrap@anu.edu.au

Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up (25 Nov 2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Come along with your thinking cap, maybe a problem, and some lunch!

Zoom link

Password: 543284

Calendar invite: Stats Consulting Network meeting.ics

2026 Dates

Wednesday 25 February 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 March 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 29 April 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday 29 July 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 26 August 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 30 September 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST
Wednesday 28 October 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT
Wednesday 25 November 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEDT

Slack Workspace link

ADSN Conference 2026 (26 Nov 2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Join us in the nation’s capital for the annual Australian Data Science Network Conference. This year’s theme is From Data to Decisions, which focuses on impactful data science that informs decisions, changes minds, and shapes policy.

Conference registration covers both days of the conference and includes registration for the social event in the evening of the first day.

Visit the conference website for more details: Australian Data Science Network Conference 2026 – ADSN2026

Cancellation Policy

Refunds: Cancellations made more than two weeks before the event are eligible for a refund, minus: Stripe processing fee: 1.75% + $0.30 per transaction and SSA administration fee: $20. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within two weeks of the event.

Transfer of Registration: Registrations can be transferred to another person within the same organisation at any time. Please notify changes via email: events@statsoc.org.au

ADSN Conference 2026 (27 Nov 2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Conference registration covers both days of the conference and includes registration for the social event in the evening of the first day.

Visit the conference website for more details: Australian Data Science Network Conference 2026 – ADSN2026

Cancellation Policy

Transfer of Registration: Registrations can be transferred to another person within the same organisation at any time. Please notify changes via email: events@statsoc.org.au