The symposium Population Challenges and Our Data brought together academics, government agencies, and policymakers to discuss current population issues in Australia and how they can best be researched and addressed. The goal was to identify the most pressing substantive topics, and understand which data and approaches we have and will need to develop to address them.

In-depth research and addressing issues such as unprecedented low fertility rates, rising rates of mental ill-health, disparity in life expectancy among subnational populations, and persistent social disadvantages of Indigenous Australians, depends on data availability: Understating the available data, developing additional data, and building strong ties between academia and the public service is therefore essential.  

The guest speakers, all leaders at the forefront of their academic fields, or within their respective government institutions, covered key areas in population studies: Fertility and Family, Health and Ageing, Migration, and First Nation Australians. The event organisers wish to thank all of them for making this symposium so insightful and inspiring: 

• Hon Dr Andrew Leigh, MP
• Professor Irma Mooi Reci, University of Melbourne
• Nick Latimer, Center for Population, Treasury
• Professor Tony Blakely, University of Melbourne
• Michelle Gourley, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
• Professor James Raymer, ANU
• Denise Carlton & Beidar Cho, Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Professor John Taylor, ANU
• Sophie Ellis, Australian Bureau of Statistics

To review the presentations, please use the document below.

Organisers: Vladimir Canudas-Romo and Natalie Nitsche, with the support of the RSSS Operations and CASS Marketing teams.