Latest News ~ SSA Events ~ Career Centre ~ Member Contributions ~ Other Events

Welcome to the Latest Edition of the SSA Newsletter

As we continue to spotlight the achievements, events, and voices shaping our statistical community, this edition comes with an exciting announcement: the ASC2025 conference website is now live! We’re thrilled to launch the official hub for the Australian Statistical Conference 2025—your go-to place for program updates, key dates, and opportunities to get involved.

We’re also delighted to introduce a new initiative—the SSA Branch Speaker Series—a national program featuring talks hosted by our regional branches. The very first event, presented by the Vic & Tas Branch, will take place online on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, and will showcase leading voices in statistics and data science.

In addition to these major highlights, we’re sharing details of upcoming events, open calls for prestigious SSA honours, and ways you can contribute to future issues. Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, celebrate community achievements, or stay informed about what’s ahead, there’s something here for everyone.

Let’s keep advancing, supporting, and connecting—together.

The Australian Statistical Conference (ASC2025) website is now live with call for abstracts open! www.asc2025.net 

We are now inviting submissions for contributed talks and posters for ASC2025 and the Statistical Education Symposium. Abstracts are welcomed across all areas of statistics, data science and their applications - including research, practice and the teaching of communication and statistics.

Abstract submissions are open until 15 June 2025. 

We look forward to your contributions.

We’re live! Visit www.asc2025.net to explore the official ASC2025 website, stay informed on upcoming registration announcements, and be among the first to receive program highlights and important updates.

Let’s advance, support, and connect - together at ASC 2025.

With generative artificial intelligence (AI) advancing in leaps and bounds, tech giants are racing to power the energy-hungry computer systems running it all.

But a pair of studies published in Nature today suggest a long-sought technology could improve the efficiency of computing itself, making AI more energy efficient and much faster.

Governments like to boast that “data-driven” policies are the best way to make fair, efficient decisions. They collect statistics, set targets and adjust strategies to suit.

But while data can be useful, it’s not neutral. There are biases and blind spots in the systems that produce the data. Worse, data often lacks the depth, context and responsiveness needed to drive real-world change.

The Prestigious Pitman Medal – Recognising Excellence in Statistics

The Society awards a gold medal, the Pitman Medal, at most once annually, in recognition of outstanding achievement in, and contribution to, the discipline of Statistics.

This is the Society’s premier award and recognises the recipient’s innovations in statistics, and the impact that these have had. The recipient’s work will have enhanced the international standing of Australia in the discipline of Statistics.

Initial nomination is by means of a 1-2 page description of the nominee’s achievements and their impacts, preferably in a form that can be used in a citation for the recipient.

Nominations close on 31 May.

Honorary Life Membership

Honorary Life Membership honours outstanding contribution to the profession, including through contribution to the SSA at Branch and National level – although innovation and impact in statistics are also considered.

Initial nomination is by means of a 1-2 page description of the nominee’s achievements and their impacts, preferably in a form that can be used in a citation for the recipient.

Nominations close on 31 May.

Society Service Award

A Society Service Award may be awarded to a Society member in recognition of sustained (at least 3 years) and significant service to the Statistical Society of Australia at Branch and/or National level.

Nomination is by means of a 1 page description of the nominee’s service to the Society and the impact of that effort on the success of the SSA.

The Statistical Society of Australia will award up to four top-up scholarships to PhD or Masters students in Australia who are current members of the Society.

Scholarships will be offered as a one year $2,500 award (part-time students can spread their award over two years). Awards will be per calendar year.

Applications close at 5pm AEST, 31 May 2025.

Interested in attending an ATSIMA 2025 Biennial Conference? The SSA is sponsoring the attendance of one member per conference. The Society will cover the delegate's registration fee, travel and accommodation expenses of up to $1,500.

Applications close at 5pm AEST, 6 June 2025.

Apply Now

I am writing to express my deep concerns about the current practice of statistical analysis in scientific research. As a practicing statistician, I have observed a troubling disconnect between the principles of mathematical statistics theory and the application of these principles in real-world data analysis. In essence, many statisticians are not practicing what they preach.

Read Full Article

Showcase Your Work in Our New Member Contributions Section

We’re excited to announce a new opportunity for our members to share their expertise, insights, and achievements with the wider Statistical Society of Australia community. The Member Contributions section in our e-newsletter is your platform to:

• Build a Stronger Community: Share your ideas and foster meaningful connections within the SSA network.
• Showcase Your Work: Highlight your research, articles, or professional achievements to inspire and inform fellow members.
• Amplify Your Impact: Gain recognition and visibility for your work among statisticians, data analysts, and industry leaders.

All submissions will be reviewed for potential inclusion in an upcoming edition of the newsletter. Whether you have groundbreaking research, a thought-provoking article, or news about recent accomplishments, we want to hear from you!

The Statistical Society of Australia's branches have come together to launch the National Branch Lecture Series, bringing you insightful talks from experts across the country. Each month, a different branch will host a webinar, showcasing diverse topics in statistics and data science. We’re excited to invite you to this month’s session, hosted by the Vic & Tas Branch.

Sarah Hunt will talk about how she uses experimental design to test new software features and give an example of a deep dive analysis.

National Speaker Series Hosted by Vic & Tas Branch

Date: 28 May 2025

Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM AEST

Location: Online

Tidy Time Series Analysis and Forecasting presented by Mitch O'Hara-Wild

Date: 2 May 2025

Time: 1:00 PM-4:30 PM AEST

Location: Online

ACT Branch Meeting -- The data analyst’s guide to PLIDA (Personal Level Integrated Data Asset)

Date:6 May 2025

Time: 5:45 PM – 7:15 PM

Location: Hybrid in-person and online

Text Analysis with Large Language Models

Date: 3 Jun 2025 - 4 Jun 2025

Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM each day

Location: Online

Streamline Your Workflow: Effectively Managing Projects, Time, and Emails

Date: 5 Jun 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: Online

Tips for Interview Success

Date: 19 Jun 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: Online

Item Nonresponse and Imputation

Date: 24 Jun 2025

Time: Weekly 1 hour meetings taking place Tuesdays

Location: Online

The first ICOTS to be held in Australia is in the heart of Brisbane 12th -17th July, 2026.

Propose a paper to feature in one of ICOTS 12 Main Topics.

Important Dates

Due date for Main Topic paper proposals: 31 May 2025

Outcome by: 30 August 2025

Due date for contributed and other paper proposals desiring refereeing: 31 July 2025

Acceptance by: 30 August 2025

An optional refereeing process is available for all papers accepted as above.

Papers will appear in the international ICOTS Proceedings. Due date for Papers requesting refereeing: 31 October 2025

Referee reports by: 31 December 2025

See Home • ICOTS 12 for Main Topics (under Scientific Programme) and for Submissions.

R-Ladies Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney are thrilled to host our first ever cross-chapter TidyTuesday and we would love to have you come along!

TidyTuesday is a weekly event created by the Data Science Learning Community for folks to develop new skills in a low-stakes, welcoming environment. Each week, a new dataset is released for everyone to play and explore. There is no limit to what you can do! 

Date: 6 May 2025

Time: 1:00 PM

Location: Online 

STEM Women’s Development Scholarships

We’re offering partial scholarships for women in the STEM Industry ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per person, for one of four leadership and workplace skill development programs.

These scholarships are aimed at encouraging more women to increase their impact at work, progress their career, and step into leadership roles.

Application Deadline: Friday 6th June 2025.

AMSI invites experienced lecturers to teach an honours/masters level statistics or probability course at the 2026 AMSI Summer School, held at Monash University from January 12 to February 6.

This unique opportunity allows you to engage with a diverse, national cohort of highly motivated honours and post-graduate students in an intensive learning environment.

To apply, please complete the attached proposal and submit to Anna Muscara and Ngang Le at coordinator_rhed@amsi.org.au by Friday 9 May.

Apply Now

Stay Connected – Follow SSA’s Official LinkedIn Page!

We’re excited to invite you to follow the official Statistical Society of Australia (SSA) LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/statsocaus/

By following us, you’ll gain access to:

• Regular updates on SSA events and conferences
• The latest industry news and trends
• Exclusive career opportunities and professional development resources
• Member highlights and community insights

Stay informed, connect with fellow statisticians and data professionals, and be part of the growing SSA network. Follow us today!

The SSA Career Centre is your go-to platform for connecting statisticians and data scientists with prospective employers.

For Employers:
Advertise job openings to a highly targeted audience of statisticians and data professionals. Once registered, employers can:

• Post and manage job advertisements.
• Search for and manage prospective candidates.
• Create a detailed company profile to enhance visibility.

Advertising fees start at just $130, providing an affordable way to reach top talent.

For Job Seekers:
Boost your career with tools designed to help you stand out:

• Post your résumé anonymously for potential employers to view.
• Set up personalised job alerts to be notified when roles matching your criteria are advertised.
• Take advantage of our free résumé review service to refine your profile before uploading it.

Whether you’re hiring or seeking, the SSA Career Centre makes connecting easy and efficient. Register today to get started!

Whether you’re looking to sponsor an event, support a conference, or explore a long-term partnership, we’re excited to work with you. Collaborate with the Statistical Society of Australia to connect with our vibrant community of statisticians and data professionals.

Reach out to Jodi Phillips at events@statsoc.org.au to start the conversation and explore possibilities.