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

Welcome to the Latest Edition of the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA) Newsletter

We are delighted to bring you the latest updates from the SSA, including exciting events, professional development opportunities, industry news, and member highlights.

Looking ahead, we are excited about this year’s Australian Statistical Conference in Perth. This premier event will bring together statisticians, data scientists, and industry leaders for a dynamic exchange of ideas, networking, and collaboration. Stay tuned for more details!

We are also seeking member submissions to highlight the diverse and impactful work within our community. Whether it's groundbreaking research, innovative applications of statistical methods, or insights into industry trends, we invite you to contribute. If you’d like to see your work featured in a future edition, we encourage you to submit your research, articles, or perspectives—let’s celebrate and share the amazing contributions of our SSA community.

The SSA newsletter is your hub for staying informed, connected, and engaged. We invite you to participate, contribute, and help shape the future of statistics and data science.

The SSA is forming a Scholarships Committee, to assist with ranking applications for a range of student scholarships that we offer.

The Committee will be responsible for reviewing scholarship applications, evaluating candidates based on merit, and making recommendations for scholarship recipients to the SSA Central Council. Members will be expected to rank applicants for Higher Degree by Research top-up scholarships, as well as contribute to the design of new undergraduate scholarships that will be offered for the first time later in 2025.

We are seeking up to 8 Committee members from across the branches and from different interest areas in statistics. Applicants should have deep knowledge of the academic programs in statistics offered in their state or territory, and the ability to rank scholarship applications objectively. We anticipate this Committee will meet 3 times per year. We particularly encourage applications from senior, mid-career, and early-career academics.

If you are passionate about supporting the SSA and the next generation of statisticians and data scientists, please contact Lynne Giles to express your interest in this role. Please include a brief statement of interest outlining your reasons for applying along with a summary of your relevant experience that would contribute to the Committee’s work.

Kind regards,

Lynne Giles

President

Data science is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of success in commercial real estate (CRE) investing. With vast amounts of data available, firms are seeking advanced analytics to gain a competitive edge, optimize portfolios, and enhance decision-making.

In the ever-evolving field of clinical diagnostics, the fusion of disciplines often leads to groundbreaking advancements. As a statistician and a biomedical scientist, we have found a shared interest in the use of statistical tools to unlock their hidden potential in cell classification in clinical diagnostics.

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.

Watch the Venables Award Recording

Missed the live session? You can now watch the inspiring webinar. The goal of this award is to encourage new open source software development from the Australian community with a view to support efforts to develop and share data science and statistics methodology.

Congratulations to the 2024 Winners

Two developers shared this year’s award.

Alex Lee for his software whereabouts. This is a light-weight Python package for bulk geocoding and address standardization.

Rob Moss for his pypfilt. The software implements several online inference methods that have been used in many scientific fields for real-time forecasting, with the COVID-19 pandemic being one of the most high-profile examples

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.

SSA Vic & Tas webinar (post AGM): Designing cluster randomised trials for the real world

Date: 25 Mar 2025

Time: 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM

Location: Lecture Theatre 2 -Level, B1 207-221 Bouverie St (Building 379) University of Melbourne OR CSIRO Auditorium Hobart (3 Castray Esplanade Battery Point) OR Online

SSA NSW: 2025 AGM + Lancaster Lecture by Andrew Zammit Mangion

Date: 27 Mar 2025

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Location: F07.03.373.Carslow, University of Sydney / Online

SSA WA April: Panel Discussion on the Ethics of Data and AI

Date: 15 Apr 2025

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (AWST)

Location: Great Southern Room, Level 4, State Library of Western Australia, Perth Cultural Centre, 25 Francis Street, Perth

Please note that this event will not be recorded or streamed online.

SSThe Social Research Centre and the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA) are very proud to offer statistical training from the International Program in Survey and Data Science.

Date: May 22 – June 12, 2025

Time : 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (AEST).

Location: Online- Weekly 1 hour meetings taking place Thursdays.

VIC & TAS Branch AGM

Date: 25 Mar 2025

Time: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (AEDT)

Designing cluster randomised trials for the real world- Jessica Kasza

SA Branch AGM

Date: 26 Mar 2025

Time: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM (ACDT)

The Statistical Society of Australia National Speaker Series - presentation by Dr Lan Kelly.

NSW Branch AGM + Lancaster Lecture by Andrew Zammit Mangion

Date: 27 Mar 2025

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (AEDT)

Spatio-temporal modelling of environmental data: Progress, challenges, and the road ahead.

ICOTS 12 is calling for contributions

You are warmly invited to the first ICOTS to be held in Australia, from 12th to 17th July 2026. The beautiful conference venue is in the heart of Brisbane.

ICOTS, held every four years in different countries around the world, is a most important event for all interested in the teaching and learning of the statistical and data sciences. As well as internationally renowned speakers, the ICOTS 12 programme has an overall Theme and Main Topics ranging widely over school, tertiary and workplace contexts within and across disciplines, technologies, training and research at all educational levels. ICOTS 12 has 10 named Main Topics and a Contributed and Other Topic.

The first call for abstracts is now open for paper proposals to be featured under Main Topics 1-10. See Home • ICOTS 12 for Main Topics (under Scientific Programme) and for Submissions and Important dates under Notices and Guidelines.

Are you organising a mathematical sciences workshop to be held before 31 August 2026? Apply for AMSI-AustMS funding by Monday 28 April 2025!

Grants of up to $7.5k are available per workshop. Early-career researchers and first-time organisers are encouraged to apply. Organisers may nominate a keynote speaker to visit SMRI for one week before or after the proposed workshop.

Please note that starting this month, the meetup time will change to 12:00–1:00 PM AEST.

We look forward to seeing you at our next session!

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.