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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 ...
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 parents of young children, it is a behaviour that they should be aware of and know how to respond to appropriately.”
Dr Cockburn is a GP and health advocate – with a twist – while she practices part time in suburban Melbourne she is also known around Australia as ‘Dr Feelgood’, a high profile media presenter who champions sensitive issues and demystifies medicine.
Her 20 year media career spans every television network and Australia’s top radio networks. She currently can be seen on channel 7’s Morning Show with Larry and Kylie, and heard hosting her own Sunday Night talk back radio program Talking Health on Melbourne’s radio 3AW. She is a recipient of the radio industry’s award for best documentary and an MBF award for excellence in health journalist.
Behind the scenes, Sally is passionate about patient and community issues and is active in health policy and education at many levels. Sally is a Lifetime Australia Day Ambassador for Victoria. In March 2010 Sally was inducted into the Victorian Women’s honour roll for harnessing the media to improve health communications.
She has just retired from the Chair of Family Planning Victoria and the board of Vichealth, the world leading health promotion organisation.
Sally is patron or ambassador for many community organisations and sits on the Victorian Government’s Mental Health Reform Council.
For more information about Family Planning Queensland, or to order a copy of Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviours (RRP $14.90) visit www.fpq.com.au or call 07 3250 0240.
Family Planning Queensland’s revolutionary book, Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour, is shedding light on child sexual behaviours and helping parents guide healthy sexual development.
“My 13-year-old son spends a lot of time in his bedroom with the door shut.” “My teenager is texting revealing photos of herself to her boyfriend.” “My son, 8, masturbates at school, often exposing himself to others.” Is this normal?
Family Planning Queensland’s revolutionary book, Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour, released today is shedding light on child sexual behaviours and helping parents guide healthy sexual development.
According to child sexual abuse prevention expert for Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) and co-author of Is this normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour, Ms Holly Brennan OAM, sexuality is integral to a person’s life, from birth to death.
“Parents often feel overwhelmed by their children’s sexual behaviours and feelings, so understanding what’s considered normal can ease some of the worries of parenting, while helping to protect their children from harm.
“Most child sexual behaviours are perfectly normal, healthy and nothing to worry about. What’s most important is that your child knows that they can talk to you about their body and relationships and recognise that sexuality is a part of everyday life,” Ms Brennan said.
For more information about Family Planning Queensland, or to order a copy of Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviours (RRP $14.90) visit www.fpq.com.au or call 07 3250 0240.
Campaign News Featured by .
“Most child sexual behaviours are perfectly normal, healthy and nothing to worry about." Co-author Holly Brennan
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.
Read the rest of Understanding children’s sexual behaviour »
Team VIVA! welcomes the introduction of a new daily, breaking news and opinion website focused on Australia’s health system.
Health Reporter, backed by a team of experienced journalists and health industry professionals, stemmed from the belief by its owners that Australia’s health system is important and large enough to have its own daily online news site producing original news content and opinion.
Ex News Limited journalist and long-time health industry PR executive, Michael Riley is heading the new venture, together with Jamie and Lori Silver, directors of digital media and advertising agency Pixel Light.
“Our long term goal is to break news, provide challenging and thought provoking opinion pieces and help set the health news agenda rather than follow it,” Mr Riley told the PR Report.
Mr Riley said research conducted by the Health Reporter team indicated there were a number of issues, stories and opinions that could be reported more adequately in the media than presently being done and there were important stories and issues that warranted further coverage and/or follow up.
Health Reporter will provide all content for free and Mr Riley said the response from the health industry had been exceptionally positive.
VIVA! Principal Kirsten Bruce said Health Reporter was a great example of health communicators embracing the digital age.
“In these modern times of smart phones and social media, readers – particularly Gen Y – are relying increasingly on the internet for news.
“By providing news specifically on the health industry and ‘thought-provoking opinion pieces’, Health Reporter is set to complement existing health industry titles, such as Australian Doctor, Medical Observer and Pharma in Focus,” Ms Bruce said.
“We look forward to working with the Health Reporter team to better educate their audience on important breakthroughs in the health industry.”
Health Industry News by .
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! is here to help you reboot your resolutions. We’ve gathered the top 5 tips for keeping your resolutions:
- Aim low
- Don’t overload yourself
- Tell everyone you know
- Reward yourself
- Don’t let the small stumbles bring you down.
Here’s what Team VIVA! are resolving:
Kirsten, Principal
- To play tennis and do a pilates class once a week.
- To spend more quality time with my beautiful little girls, Zahra, 3 and Bianka, 1 who are growing up incredibly fast.
- To enjoy our beautiful new working environment, complete with kookaburras, rabbits, harbour views and nudists along the Mosman peninsula!
Denise, Account Manager
- To get my daily dose of vitamin D during work hours while enjoying our stunning harbour views.
- To make more time for hobbies such as Bikram yoga, life drawing, scuba diving and even camping!
Kirsty, Account Executive
- To do everything on the ‘top 100 things to-do in Sydney’ list.
- To eat breakfast more regularly.
Mahsa, Account Associate
- To start a herb garden, and keep it alive for at least 30 days into the New Year.
- To quit my gym and get outdoors instead to keep fit and healthy.
Still lacking motivation? The Department of Health and Ageing has developed a free 12-week planner to help people make changes towards a healthier lifestyle or check out Body & Soul’s top 50 health and fitness apps.
Team VIVA! by .
