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

We are pleased to share the latest updates from the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA), including exciting upcoming events, professional development opportunities, industry news, and member achievements.

This edition highlights our International Women’s Day Panel Discussion, where we will celebrate the achievements of women in statistics and data science. We encourage you to register and join this inspiring conversation on gender equity and inclusion in our profession.

Additionally, we are thrilled to showcase new submissions from our members, demonstrating the diverse and impactful work happening within our community. From cutting-edge research to innovative applications of statistical methods, we invite you to explore these contributions and consider submitting your own work for future editions.

The SSA newsletter serves as a key resource for staying informed, connected, and engaged. We invite you to participate, contribute, and continue shaping the future of statistics and data science.

Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Sudan and Somalia… As violent conflicts rage around the world, the March issue of Significance considers the challenges and opportunities for those gathering data on war.

Statisticians are occasionally presented with data that conforms rather too closely to a particular hypothesis. Peter M. B. Cahusac considers how we analyse such data.

Vale - Dr Victor Siskand

Dr Victor Siskind died last week aged 93. Vic was born in South Africa and was awarded a BSc in Statistics in 1962 and PhD in 1969 from the University of London. Vic was well-known in Brisbane as a statistician working with multiple research groups at both QUT and QIMR from the 1990s. He worked in many areas, including studies in road safety, genetics, and melanoma. Vic worked long after retirement age and published his last paper in 2023. He was an extremely well-liked and highly respected member of the research community. He has been described as both intensely serious and extremely funny, as well as generous with his time and mentoring.

The 2024 Tjanpi Award for best Student paper in Environmental Statistics

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Tjanpi Award, the annual student prize for best student paper in environmental statistics, sponsored by the SSA Environmental Statistics Section. To be eligible a student must be:

An author of a paper that has been accepted during 2024, having made a substantial contribution to the work. This paper should concern statistical methods or their application, with particular relevance to the environmental sciences

A student as of June 30 2024

A current member of the SSA and the Environmental Statistics Section

The winner will receive $500 and will be asked to present in an invited session on environmental statistics at the next annual stats conference.

Please submit your nominations to contact@statsoc.org.au (self-nominations welcome), with Tjanpi Award submission in the header, by 5 PM ADST Friday March 14th 2025, including:

- Full name, institution

- Paper, as one pdf file.

- Letter of support from supervisor or other academic at the institution, confirming student status of applicant and describing the student's role in the paper.

The Prestigious Pitman Medal – Recognising Excellence in Statistics

The Statistical Society of Australia proudly awards the Pitman Medal, a prestigious honour recognising outstanding achievement and significant contributions to the field of statistics. This distinguished award celebrates individuals whose work has had a profound impact on the discipline.

The Pitman Medal Committee, chaired by the SSA President, carefully reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the Central Council. As with Honorary Life Memberships, the recipient of the Pitman Medal is traditionally announced at the Society’s Conference, making it a highly anticipated moment in our community.

Nominations Opening Soon! SSA members are encouraged to put forward candidates who have made exceptional contributions to statistical research, practice, and education.

Stay tuned for more details on how you can participate in recognising excellence in our field.

Social media hashtags play a significant role in increasing the visibility of health information by making it easier for people to explore health-related content. Health promotion campaigns use campaign-specific hashtags to disseminate health-related messages, enabling individuals to access accurate and timely resources and updates.

Study by: Atousa Ghahramani, Maria Prokofieva and Maximilian Pangratius de Courten

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!

Mark your calendars! The Australian Statistical Conference (ASC2025) is coming to Perth, WA, from 1–5 December 2025. This year’s conference promises to be an unmissable event, bringing together leading minds in statistics and data science from across Australia and beyond.

Join us for an exciting week of cutting-edge presentations, engaging workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities with professionals, academics, and industry leaders.

Stay tuned for more details, including keynote speakers, program highlights, and how you can get involved.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025 - Panel Discussion

Join us in celebrating the achievements of women in statistics and data science by attending SSA’s inspiring IWD event.

This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand from a terrific panel of accomplished women at different career stages about their journeys, challenges, and contributions to the field.

We also invite you to reflect on the theme "March Forward"—what it means for gender equity in the profession, and how we can all contribute to fostering inclusive and supportive professional environments. Bring your questions, insights, and enthusiasm as we engage in this important conversation.

Date: 5 Mar 2025

Time: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM AEDT

Location: Online

A Roadmap for Your Research Story: Making Communications your Companion for a Smoother Journey

Date: 26 Feb 2025

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Online

Personal Journey of Len Cook: A Webinar by Early Career & Student Statisticians Network and History Standing Committee of SSA

Date: 11 Mar 2025

Time: 12:30 and 2:30 AEDT

Location: Online

Venables Award Webinar

Date: 18 Mar 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: Online

Large Language Models for R Users

Date: 19 Mar 2025

Time: 12:45 PM-5:00 PM AEDT

Location: Online

ACT Branch Meeting -- Treatment effect estimation with entropy balancing in observational studies 

Date: 25 Feb 2025

Time: 6-7:15 PM AEDT

Location: Room 3.03 in Marie Reay Teaching Centre, Australian National University (MRTC ANU),  or via Zoom

Celebrating Excellence in Statistical Innovation – The Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics

Statistics is fundamental to science, health, industry, economics, and government, playing a crucial role in shaping society. However, statistical research has historically not received the same level of recognition as related fields like mathematics, physics, and computer science.

The Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics aims to bridge this gap by honouring pioneering work in statistical methodology. This prestigious award recognises groundbreaking statistical innovations—contributions or tools that have had a significant impact and widespread application in statistical practice, with direct relevance to society.

Unlike many individual awards, the Rousseeuw Prize focuses on the innovation itself, allowing multiple contributors to be recognised for their collective advancements in statistics.

View highlights from the award ceremony: The Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics

The AMSI-MATRIX Winter School is an annual two-week event tailored for postgraduate students, early-career researchers, and industry professionals in the mathematical sciences and related fields. Centered around a specific theme, this Winter School offers a comprehensive introduction to contemporary research through the insights of national and international experts, showcasing open problems and cutting-edge techniques.

Dates: 1 September 2025 9:00 am - 12 September 2025 5:00 pm

Venue: MATRIX, Creswick

We’re Moving – Follow Our Official SSA LinkedIn Page

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

This page will be your go-to source for regular updates on SSA events, industry news, career opportunities, member highlights, and important announcements. Whether you're looking to stay informed about upcoming conferences, professional development opportunities, or the latest trends in statistics and data science, our LinkedIn page will keep you connected with the SSA community.

Our SSA Communications LinkedIn account will be deleted on 6 March, so make sure to follow us today to stay engaged with fellow statisticians, data analysts, and industry professionals.

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.