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

Welcome to the Latest Edition of SSA eNews

As the year progresses, energy and momentum continue to build across the SSA community. This edition brings you Society updates, professional opportunities, and highlights that reflect the strength, diversity, and innovation of the statistical profession in Australia.

Whether you're deepening your expertise, connecting with peers, or exploring new areas of practice, now is a great time to get involved. Registrations for ASC2025 are open, and we encourage all members to stay connected and make the most of what’s ahead.

A reminder that the Annual General Meetings of ASPAI and SSAI will take place on 28 August 2025, offering a chance to reflect on our shared progress and look ahead to future initiatives.

SSA eNews is your space to stay informed, celebrate our collective achievements, and contribute to a vibrant, growing community of statisticians and data professionals. Thank you for being part of it.

The data science and machine learning technology space is undergoing rapid changes, fueled primarily by the wave of generative AI and—just in the last year—agentic AI systems and the large language models that power them. Where data science and machine learning tools were traditionally targeted toward developing and supporting data analytics and predictive analytics systems, these tools today are increasingly supporting the development of AI agentic systems.

The product development lifecycle is long and challenging. Whether it is translational research or clinical research, there are numerous obstacles in the design and management of a study and evaluation of the data. The ability to analyse data generated by translational and clinical research using statistical analytics and computational simulations can profoundly and positively impact development outcomes. 

Reminder: Upcoming SSAI & ASPAI Annual General Meetings

This is a reminder that the Annual General Meetings of the Australian Statistical Publishing Association Inc (ASPAI) and the Statistical Society of Australia Inc (SSAI) will be held — in that order — on:

Date: 28 August 2025

Time: 1:00pm to 1:30pm AEST

Location: Via Zoom

As notified on 5 June 2025, a special resolution to dissolve ASPAI will be put to members at the ASPAI AGM. This resolution has been endorsed by SSA and NZSA executive bodies.

The AGMs will be followed by a short 30-minute presentation, with speaker details to be announced soon.

Teresa Dickinson, PSM

Secretary, Statistical Society of Australia

Join Us at ASC2025 – Registrations Now Open

The Australian Statistical Conference 2025 (ASC2025) is shaping up to be a key event on the statistical calendar, and we invite you to be part of it. With registrations now open, this is an ideal time to confirm your attendance and begin planning your participation.

Visit www.asc2025.net to explore the evolving program, keynote speakers, venue details, and important dates. ASC2025 offers a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues, engage with leading research, and contribute to discussions shaping the future of statistics and data science.

We look forward to welcoming you in Perth this December — whether as a speaker, presenter, or attendee.

ASC2025 Scholarship Applications – Opening 15 August!

The SSA is pleased to announce branch-supported scholarships to help students and early-career statisticians to attend ASC2025 conference. 

Applications Open: Friday, 15 August

Applications Close: Friday, 22 August

Results Announced: Friday, 29 August

Please note that most scholarships require applicants to have an accepted abstract, so don’t forget to submit yours by 15 June!

Applications Closing Soon

The Statistical Society of Australia (SSA) and ASC2025 Scientific Programme Committee are delighted to open nominations for the Horizon Lectures, to be given at ASC2025 in Perth, 1 - 5 December 2025. The Horizon Lectures aim to recognise emerging leaders in Australia’s statistics community and their contributions to advancing statistical practice across academia, government, and/or industry. Lectures will be awarded to mid-career statisticians working in any discipline who have made an impact within their field(s) of expertise and have demonstrated leadership in building capacity in statistical expertise within Australia.

Up to two Horizon Lectures will be awarded for presentation at ASC2025. All Lectures will be presented together as a plenary session to all conference delegates. Lectures can be on any area of statistics in line with the awardee’s expertise. Each awardee will receive up to $2,500 to cover conference and travel costs.

Nominations involve a written statement (up to 1,000 words) summarising how the nominee meets the award selection criteria. Nominees must be a member of the SSA and be employed as a statistician in Australia. Nominations must be supported by another member of the SSA.

Full details on eligibility, award selection criteria and submission are available in the nomination form. Nominations must be submitted by 5pm AEST, 30 June 2025 to asc2025@statsoc.org.au 

Late nominations will not be accepted.

Questions about the Horizon lectures should be sent to ASC2025 Scientific Committee at asc2025@statsoc.org.au

Applications Now Open: 2025 Betty Allan Travel Award

The Betty Allan Travel Award supports early career women and non-binary statisticians or data scientists working in Australia, helping them pursue travel opportunities that will advance their careers — including conference attendance or professional visits, anywhere in the world.

This national award honours Frances Elizabeth (Betty) Allan, CSIRO’s first statistician, who made foundational contributions to Australian statistics before her career was cut short due to the gendered laws of her time.

Eligibility:

Open to early career women or non-binary members of SSA and/or CSIRO staff working or studying in statistics, data science, or AI in Australia. “Early career” is defined as up to 10 years active in the field, with allowances for career interruptions.

Deadline:

11 July 2025, 4:00 PM AEST

Travel can take place any time within 12 months of the award.

Apply now and tell us how this opportunity will support your career development.

Access Form

Submit to: contact@statsoc.org.au

For more detailed information please view our website.

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!

Join us for the second instalment of the SSA’s National Speaker Series, proudly hosted by the QLD Branch.

This upcoming session will explore statistical methods used to estimate the size of hidden and hard-to-reach populations in sensitive contexts. Drawing on real-world applications from Iran in areas such as HIV, reproductive health, and mental health, this talk will highlight both methodological approaches and the broader implications for public health research.

National Speaker Series Hosted by QLD Branch: Estimating Size of Hidden Populations in Sensitive Contexts: Applications in HIV, Reproductive Health, and Mental Health- Lessons from Iran

Date: 27 Jun 2025

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Online

SSA VIC/TAS July Mentoring Event 

Date: 2 Jul 2025 

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

Location: Online

Communicating Across Disciplines: A Workshop for Statisticians and Data Scientists

Date: 10 Jul 2025

Time: 1:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Online

Everything That You Should Know About Quarto, But Did Not Know You Should Ask

Date: 11 Jul 2025

Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: In-person: University of Adelaide, Ingkarni Wardli (IW) Rm 5.57

Introduction to Big Data & Machine Learning

Date: 26 Aug 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Time: Weekly 1 hour meetings taking place Tuesday

Location: Online

OceaniaR Hackathon 2025 

Date: 23 Nov 2025 

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Location: In-person only-The Australian National University. The Sciences Teaching Building, Building Number 136, 136 Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 

Submit a Paper for ICOTS 12 — Brisbane, 12–17 July 2026

The 12th International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS 12) will be held for the first time in Australia, right in the heart of Brisbane from 12–17 July 2026. SSA members are strongly encouraged to propose a paper to feature in one of the ICOTS 12 Main Topics.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the global conversation on statistics education, spanning research, practice, and innovation in teaching and learning.

Important Dates

Due date for Main Topic paper proposals: 31 July 2025

Notification of outcome: 30 September 2025

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

Acceptance by: 30 September 2025

An optional refereeing process is available for all accepted papers. Refereed papers will be published in the official ICOTS 12 Proceedings.

Due date for papers requesting refereeing: 30 November 2025

Referee reports returned by: 31 January 2026

Additional due date for contributed papers not desiring refereeing: 31 January 2026

Final papers for Proceedings due: 30 April 2026

Visit the ICOTS 12 website to explore the Main Topics (under Scientific Programme) and access submission guidelines.

Whether you’re focused on research, practice, or pedagogy, we invite you to share your work and help shape the future of statistics education.

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.