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Welcome to this edition of SSA eNews

With ASC 2025 just days away, we’re excited to welcome delegates to Perth for a full week of keynotes, workshops, the Statistical Education Symposium and much more. Registration is now closed, and we extend our sincere thanks to all ASC 2025 sponsors for helping make this event possible.

In this issue, you’ll find details on the alternative social gathering at The Windsor, the inaugural Henstridge–Praeger Public Lecture and ASC workshops. We also feature a new episode of The Random Sample and a short piece on how metadata is strengthening modern AI.

You’ll also find updates on ICOTS 12, the Statistical Consulting Network, and opportunities to share your news, follow SSA on LinkedIn and connect via the SSA Career Centre.

We look forward to seeing many of you in Perth next week.

ASC 2025 – Just Five Days to Go! (Registration Now Closed)

The countdown is almost over — the Australian Statistical Conference 2025 begins next Monday, 1 December, at Curtin University in Perth. We hope you’re as excited as we are for an inspiring week of presentations, discussions and opportunities to connect across our vibrant statistical and data science community.

With a rich programme featuring keynote talks, invited sessions, contributed presentations, workshops and the Statistical Education Symposium, ASC 2025 is set to be a highlight on the SSA calendar. If you haven’t done so already, now is the perfect time to browse the full conference programme and start planning your week.

View the Program

A Sincere Thank You to Our Sponsors

ASC 2025 would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all organisations who have partnered with us this year — your commitment enables us to bring together statisticians, data scientists, researchers and students from across Australia and beyond. Your contribution helps cultivate an environment where ideas can flourish and collaboration can thrive.

We are grateful for your support in making ASC 2025 a memorable and meaningful event for our community.

As the ASC Dinner is now fully booked, delegates are warmly invited to join an informal social gathering at the Mends St Table at The Windsor.

Vanaja Thomas, General Manager of the SSA, will be joining you at the Mends St Table and looks forward to welcoming you on the night. This gathering will operate on a pay-as-you-go allowing you the flexibility to order your own meals & drinks. We hope this relaxed setting provides a welcoming space to unwind, connect with others, and continue the conversations sparked throughout the conference.

Join us at 7:00pm on Wednesday, 3 December for an enjoyable evening of conversation and networking.

Spots are limited - If you would like to attend, please submit your EOI below

AI depends on data — but it works even better with metadata, the information that describes and gives context to that data. In this article, Kevin Vu shows how metadata helps AI models learn faster, improve accuracy and avoid unnecessary processing. A simple demo highlights the impact: adding basic metadata dramatically boosts model performance. As AI advances, metadata is becoming a key component in building more efficient and trustworthy systems.

Australia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) has now transitioned from quarterly to monthly publication — a major enhancement to one of the country’s key economic indicators.

This change provides more timely insight into price movements, earlier detection of inflation trends and better information to support policy decisions.

To learn more about this transition, you can read the ABS media statement below.

Learn more

The latest episode of The Random Sample is now available, highlighting how official statistics agencies are embracing multi-source data to enhance the quality and relevance of the information that supports decision-making.

In this episode, Dr Anders Holmberg, General Manager and Chief Methodologist at the ABS, discusses the opportunities and challenges of integrating diverse data sources and the methodological innovations shaping the future of official statistics.

Listen Now

Inaugural Henstridge–Praeger Public Lecture

The SSA proudly presents the inaugural Henstridge–Praeger Public Lecture, delivered by Mr Dennis Trewin AO FASSA, on the topic:

“Trust in Statistics is crucial for the wellbeing of societies but it has to be earned.”

The Henstridge–Praeger Public Lecture is a new initiative supported by a major philanthropic gift from Professor Cheryl Praeger AC and Dr John Henstridge, established to promote the value of statistics for the benefit of the community. Their gift also supports the new Praeger–Henstridge Awards and Prizes, encouraging participation from women and young people in statistics and mathematics.

Date: 4 December 2025
Time: 12:00 PM AWST
(2:00 PM AEST | 2:30 PM ACST | 3:00 PM AEDT)
Location: Hayden Williams Lecture Theatre (405.201), Curtin University / Online
Registration: Required for online attendance

CPD 216 - ASC2025 Workshop

Date: 30 Nov 2025

Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (AWST)

Location: In-person, Perth, WA

SSA Events Calendar

ICOTS 12 – Updated website, now Live!

The Statistical Society of Australia is thrilled to share exciting updates for the 12th International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS 12), to be held in Brisbane, 12–17 July 2026 — the first time ICOTS will be hosted in Australia.

We’re excited to announce the launch of the updated ICOTS 12 website, now live with program information and submission details.

Visit : ICOTS 12 Website or scan the new QR code below:

ICOTS 12 keynote speakers:

Prof Mine Çetinkaya–Rundel – Duke University
Prof Dianne Cook – Monash University
Emeritus Prof Sir Peter Donnelly – Genomics PLC, University of Oxford
Prof Rob Gould – UCLA
Dr Elena Proden – UNITAR

These outstanding speakers will bring a wealth of expertise and perspectives to ICOTS 12, setting the stage for an inspiring and thought-provoking program.

We look forward to welcoming you in Brisbane 2026 for this landmark event in statistics education!

Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up

Last Friday of the month, 12-1 PM AEST. Come along with your thinking cap, maybe a problem, and some lunch! The Statistical Consulting Network invites you to their monthly meet-up, a virtual lunchtime meeting where statisticians can help each other out with challenging problems or just discuss topical issues.

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

We also have 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.

Zoom link

Password: 660145

Slack Workspace link

Your work. Your voice. Your community.

From research breakthroughs to innovative applications of data science, our members are shaping the world through statistics and we want to celebrate it!

SSA e-News is your platform to share insights, achievements, and experiences that inspire others across our community. Whether you’ve published, presented, or simply discovered something worth sharing, we’d love to hear from you.

Share your story and let’s celebrate the people behind the numbers!

Submit Your News Here

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 Michelle Wightwick , events officer at events@statsoc.org.au to start the conversation and explore possibilities.