We're passionate about healthcare communication
A tribute to Professor Phil Sambrook
It is with great sadness that I learned this month of the tragic passing of leading Australian rheumatologist, past-President of the Australian & New Zealand Bone & Mineral Society (ANZBMS) and inaugural Medical Director of Osteoporosis Australia, Professor Phil Sambrook. Phil passed away in peace at his Kangaroo Valley retreat with his loving wife and children beside him, following a diagnosis of ocular melanoma four years ago, which later manifested as secondary liver and bone metastases. Over the past decade I have launched many World Osteoporosis Days and other bone health projects, working closely with Phil in his role as ...
VIVA! Communications welcomes new member to its award-winning team
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Abbey Flanagan as Account Associate to Team VIVA! [caption id="attachment_1707" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Abbey has relocated to Sydney from her home town of Adelaide to forge a career in health communication, following a stint as the Communications and Marketing Officer for a Not-for-Profit Organisation. "][/caption] “I developed a passion for health and wellness communication while studying Journalism (notably health reporting) and completing an internship at the Australian Doctor Magazine. “Working part-time for one of Adelaide’s largest General Practices for four years further consolidated my interest in this area,” said Abbey. “This real-life experience combined with my ...
High tea treat for Kirsty’s birthday
“Better late than never” was certainly the catch phrase today as Team VIVA! held belated birthday celebrations for Account Executive, Kirsty. We didn’t have to venture far from our new office at Middle Head to enjoy a wonderful lunch at The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks. From the historic venue – which has had many uses during the 130 years in which the military occupied the headland – we were also treated to some of the best views of Sydney Harbour. And we couldn’t have asked for better weather with Sydney warming up to a balmy 26 degrees.
Laurie makes a splash with Team VIVA!
Team VIVA! had the pleasure of working with Olympic and World Champion swim coach, Laurie Lawrence at a national nursing conference on the Gold Coast today (Friday, March 2, 2012) to call upon the Government to fund a national network of community-based Parkinson’s nurse specialists. Lawrence lent his voice to the call in support of his life-long friend, former Australian butterfly champion and his former assistant coach, Ian Findlay, who was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s in 2004 at 40 years of age. “I coached Ian as a young athlete and I know of no one who trained harder than he did. ...
Dr Feelgood endorses new guide for parents
As a mother, doctor and sexual health advocate for the past 20 years, Dr Sally Cockburn, aka 'Dr Feelgood', understands how confusing children's sexual behaviour can be. The media communicator today threw her support behind Family Planning Queensland's revolutionary new book for parents, Is This Normal? Understanding your child's sexual behaviour. “This practical book is a must-read for every parent and professional who works with children,” Dr Cockburn said. “A tool of this nature is long overdue and I fully endorse this book as an essential guide for all parents and carers. “While topics such as masturbation may sound outrageous to ...
Understanding children’s sexual behaviour
[caption id="attachment_1600" align="alignright" width="317" caption="“Most child sexual behaviours are perfectly normal, healthy and nothing to worry about." Co-author Holly Brennan"][/caption] A revolutionary book – to be launched on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 – is set to shed light on child sexual behaviours and help parents and carers guide healthy sexual development. Published by Family Planning Queensland (FPQ), the book is a practical, must-read for every parent and professional working with children.
How to keep your New Year’s resolutions
If statistics are anything to go by, the majority of people reading this will have resolved to live better in 2012, whether getting fitter, quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, or spending more time with family and friends. However statistically, three-quarters of people would have given up already. According to a British survey, just nine days into the exciting (and possibly apocalyptic) 2012, was when willpower waned. Sadly that rugged determination felt on January 1, fuelled by one-too-many glasses of champagne the night before, is quickly lost among the unopened emails and seemingly-endless to-do list once back at work. Fortunately, Team VIVA! ...
Sun shines on VIVA! celebrations
With the sun shining and temperature reaching a balmy 22 degrees Celsius, Team VIVA! stepped out of the office to celebrate another successful year. The perfect Sydney summer day provided an idyllic backdrop for our festive lunch at the picturesque Bather's Pavilion at Balmoral Beach. We took the opportunity to reflect on a wonderful year, which saw countless successful campaign launches, the appointment of two new VIVA! members (read more about Kirsty and Mahsa here) and culminated in the relocation of VIVA! HQ to the enviable Middle Head (see photos here). We also congratulated VIVA! team member Denise Vrontas on her promotion to Account Manager, ...
VIVA! relocates to Middle Head
Following eight wonderful years at our original office in Chatswood, we’re pleased to announce our relocation to Middle Head Precinct in Mosman. As VIVA! Communications continues to grow as a dynamic and strategic health and wellness communications agency, we've decided to swap the hustle and bustle for more serene offices in Mosman. Team VIVA! are practicing what we preach by balancing work and life in a stress-free environment, nestled between walking tracks, historic buildings, harbour views, native bush, secluded beaches and charming neighbours. We’ve doubled our office space and plan to expand the VIVA! team in the new year, ...
Highlights from day 2 – Digital Pharma Marketing Australia Conference
Sanofi’s Will Collie says digital is not the strategy – strategy is to apply digital to your marketing mix Sanofi product manager Andrew Moore opened day two of the Digital Pharma conference with a case study on how pharmaceutical marketers are looking towards social networks for insight. Andrew rebuked popular myths and phobias surrounding social media, including “it can’t help my business”, “you can’t measure ROI” and “it’s safer not to get involved”. Notably, he mentioned a 30 day study by Visible involving 224 brands and more than 257,000 posts of prescription and OTC medications that found just 0.3 per ...
Experts to lay foundations for strong bones at World Osteoporosis Day Summit
Health and exercise experts, government representatives and consumer groups will meet in Sydney this Thursday, October 20 – World Osteoporosis Day – to set clear recommendations on calcium, vitamin D and exercise required to prevent brittle bones. Osteoporosis Australia’s national Building Healthy Bones Throughout Life Summit will produce best practice recommendations for preventing osteoporosis, for distribution to GPs, allied health professionals and the community. Sydney Swans midfielder Jude Bolton, who holds ...
VIVA! Principal test drives Google+
We’ve been monitoring Google+ for a little while now, but it’s our very own VIVA! Principal, Kirsten Bruce, who is leading Team VIVA! by embracing the social movement and taking the widely publicised platform for a test drive. [caption id="attachment_1171" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Kirsten Bruce on Google+ - Images from L-R: Kirsten with celebrity nutritionist, Dr Joanna McMillan Price & three-time Olympian, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Australia’s Governor General and NCWA Patron, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC and Behind-the-scenes at Marie Claire photo shoot. "][/caption] Kirsten is now sharing her insights on Google+ into life as Principal of an award-winning and dynamic health ...
Identifying children living with Progeria
At VIVA! we’ve been busily researching Progeria, also known as the Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, and assisting our GLOBALHealthPR partners in a worldwide search for children diagnosed with the condition. [caption id="attachment_1119" align="aligncenter" width="235" caption="Zoey, age 2. Photo credit: The Progeria Research Foundation"][/caption] Progeria is a rare and fatal genetic condition that causes rapid ageing in young children. Progeria symptoms include growth failure, loss of body fat and hair, aged-looking skin, stiffness of joints, generalised atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Sadly, most of the children diagnosed with Progeria will die from heart disease on average, by 13 years of age. Currently, there ...
Cause for celebration
Today I’m celebrating a couple of milestones – my personal birthday (21 years young!) and that of my company’s. VIVA! turns nine years old today and boy, how the years have flown. It seems like only yesterday that I plunged myself into unchartered waters and threw the VIVA! doors open, largely servicing a former clientele who had pledged their unswerving loyalty. Built on the shaky foundations of naïve confidence, a sprinkling of confidence and a sure-fire will to succeed, VIVA! was officially open for business. [caption id="attachment_973" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Cupcakes & chocolate!"][/caption] For a couple of years I burned the midnight oil, coordinating ...
Doctors rally at NSW Parliament to help save RNSH
More than 300 doctors and concerned residents rallied at NSW Parliament to help save Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) from a gravely underfunded redevelopment plan. NEWS ALERT: Bed shortages plague RNSH (Mosman Daily, Wednesday, June 8, 2011) VIDEO: NSW Health Minister, Jillian Skinner, addresses more than 300 doctors and concerned residents at the RNSH rally outside NSW Parliament, Tue May 31, 2011. Photo Highlights Tuesday May 31, 2011 [caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="RNSH lobbyists gather at the Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_678" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="RNSH lobbyists at Sydney's Hyde Park ahead of march to NSW Parliament"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_679" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="RNSH lobbyists ...
Healthcare communications: social media listening in a health 2.0 world
As the exclusive Australian partner to GLOBALHealthPR, Team VIVA! joined our counterparts across Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe, for the first annual International Healthcare Social Media Summit (IHSMS), held at Spectrum Science headquarters in Washington DC. [caption id="attachment_624" align="alignright" width="300" caption="First International healthcare social media summit held in Washington DC on May 18, 2011"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_639" align="alignright" width="225" caption="VIVA!'s Paul Jans with Chief of GHPR, John Seng, at the International Healthcare Social Media Summit"][/caption] Drawing on real-life scenarios in health and science communications, key speakers at the IHSMS streamed live at 11pm AEST on Thursday, May 18, to reveal insights into social media ...
A new life
January 7, 2011: A new me; a new look; a new approach; a new beginning; a new life. At the turn of each year these words whizz around in our heads and are boldly scripted in our journals in the hope of self-improvement. For the 100 Australians living with the ultra-rare and life-threatening blood disease, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH), these words are ringing true. On January 1, 2011, this patient population was granted subsidised access to Soliris®, the only effective treatment for PNH, evaporating their fears of a looming death sentence. This positive outcome followed a turbulent roller coaster ride during 2010 endured by ...
Dr Harry Cooper discusses the seriousness of pneumococcal pneumonia and how to protect oneself against pneumonia, such as having the free pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination available to Australians aged 65 and over.
Pneumococcal Pneumonia from VIVA! Communications on Vimeo.
A huge congratulations to VIVA! team member Mahsa, on the exciting news of her engagement. We were thrilled to see her waltz into the VIVA! office last week with a gorgeous sparkling ring on her finger and a smile to match.
We wish Mahsa and Max all the best for their engagement and upcoming wedding plans.
Team VIVA!
Mahsa with her gorgeous ring and flowers from the VIVA! Team
Recent Post Team VIVA! by .
VIVA! Communications welcomes The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing’s (DoHA) appointment of Dr John Skerritt as the new National Manager of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), effective at the end of May.
Dr John Skerrit appointed as new head of TGA
The TGA is the national body responsible for regulating therapeutic goods including medicines, medical devices, blood and blood products.
According to the Secretary of the DoHA, Professor Jane Halton, Dr Skerritt will bring to the role his extensive experience in medical, agricultural and environmental policy, regulation, research, research management, technology application and commercialisation.
“Dr Skerritt currently leads more than 1200 staff (including 700 regulatory staff in two major science-based regulatory Divisions) and has more than 17 years experience managing laboratory programs and operations in diagnostics, cell culture, biomedical instrumentation, chemistry and biochemistry,” Professor Halton said.
The ongoing price disclosure system brokered by Medicines Australia and the Government will see another 13 medicines attract significant price cuts ranging from 11 to 77 per cent from August 1 this year.
The medication price cuts are in addition to the broadbrush $1.9 billion in PBS savings that constitute the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Medicines Australia (MA) and the Government, which saw 74 medicines slashed in price last month.
Manufacturers of originators (brand name medicines) are bracing themselves for future price cuts as patents expire and medications become subject to price disclosure.
The 13 medicines, representing more than 200 brands include Amisulpride, Bisoprolol, Cefalotin, Doxorubicin, Escitalopram, Levetiracetam, Meloxicam, Mitozantrone, Ondansetron, Oxaliplatin, Oxybutinin, Perindopril and Prochlorperazine.
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Join VIVA! team members Kirsten Bruce & Denise Vrontas as they take you on a tour of Yke’s Bornholm residence in regional WA.
Yke is living with complex Parkinson’s & is managing his disease effectively, which allows him to enjoy a full, active lifestyle.
Check out the video below:
On location with VIVA! from VIVA! Communications on Vimeo.
To see the full story on Yke, or to learn more, contact VIVA! Communications on 02 9968 3741.