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

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

As we continue to celebrate the achievements of our statistical community, we are pleased to open nominations for two of SSA’s most prestigious honours: the Pitman Medal and Honorary Lifetime Membership. These awards recognise outstanding contributions to statistics, whether through research, leadership, or service to the profession. If you know a deserving colleague, we encourage you to submit a nomination and help us acknowledge their impact.

Looking ahead, we are preparing for the Australian Statistical Conference in Perth, a premier event bringing together statisticians, data scientists, and industry leaders for a dynamic exchange of ideas, networking, and collaboration. The conference website will be live in the next few weeks, with registrations opening soon, so stay tuned for further updates!

We also invite 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 want to feature your contributions. Submit your work and be part of showcasing the incredible talent within SSA!

This newsletter is your gateway to staying informed, connected, and engaged. Get involved, share your expertise, and help shape the future of statistics and data science.

The amenities of data science are known to everyone. From producing better insights to detecting fraud, data science has become a valuable asset for companies. One of the prime Data Science Benefits is to squeeze better insights and decisions.

University of Michigan researchers have developed a statistical method that can be used for such wide-ranging applications as tracing your ancestry, modeling disease spread and studying how animals spread through geographic regions.

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.

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 a dynamic week filled with cutting-edge presentations, engaging workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities with professionals, academics, and industry leaders.

The conference website will be live in the next few weeks, with registrations opening soon—so stay tuned for updates on keynote speakers, programme highlights, and ways to get involved!

Quarto for Scientists

Date: 10 Apr 2025

Time 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: QUT Kelvin Grove campus

R Package Essentials

Date; 11 Apr 2025

Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: QUT Kelvin Grove campus

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.

Developing Essential Communication Skills for a Successful Career in Statistics

Date: 1 May 2025

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Location: Online

The 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.

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

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.

Call for Submissions: Statistics, Politics and Policy – Special Issue on Electoral Analysis

The journal Statistics, Politics and Policy (SPP) is inviting submissions for its upcoming special issue, “Elections – Electoral Systems, Campaigns and Debates – Innovations in Electoral Analysis.” This peer-reviewed academic journal, published by De Gruyter Brill, focuses on the application of statistical methods to societal, economic, political, and policy-related issues.

This special issue provides an opportunity for SSA members to contribute research on statistical approaches to electoral systems, campaign strategies, and political debates. 

Submission Deadline: 31 October 2025
Journal: Statistics, Politics and Policy (SPP)
Peer Review: Double-blind review process
Indexed: SCOPUS impact factor (2023)

Calling all early-career statisticians: 2025 Significance magazine Early Career Writing Competition

Do you have an interesting tale to tell with statistics? Would you like to win a shiny trophy and publication in Significance and a slot at the 2025 Royal Statistical Society (RSS) Conference? Then start flexing your fingers – this one’s for you!

Entries for this year’s Significance Statistical Excellence Award for Early Career Writing are now open. The award was established to raise the profile of emerging statistics communicators by sharing their work with a global audience. The winning article will be published in Significance, and finalists’ articles on the Significance website.   Winners and runners-up will be announced at the RSS Statistical Excellence Awards in London in July 2025 and invited to present their articles at the 2025 RSS Conference in Edinburgh (1–4 September 2025).

Articles can be on any topic. To get started, check out the entries from previous winners are runners-up, including SSA member Damjan Vukcevic.

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.