World Immunisation Week 2021
As millions of people around the world eagerly await their COVID-19 vaccinations, this year’s World Immunisation Week (WIW), which falls in the last week of April, has come at a fitting time. Organised by the World Health Organization (WHO), this year’s theme is ‘vaccines bring us closer’, aiming to increase global engagement around immunisation, and…
Aussies avoiding what matters most in last stage of life
Experts issuing public health plea for improved communication, acceptance and preparation for last stage of life Of the 160,000 Australian deaths recorded each year, more than 60 per cent (100,000) are predictable, and can therefore, be planned for. Yet concerningly, less than one in six Australians (15 per cent) have care plans in place for…
AUS-first digital platform supporting young Aussies living with incurable movement disorder
More than 20,000 young Aussies (under 50 years of age) living with an incurable movement disorder are set to benefit from the launch of an Australian-first digital support platform today (Thursday, April 8, 2021), ahead of World Parkinson’s Day (Sunday, April 11, 2021). Developed as a ‘living lab’ model, the Young Onset Parkinson’s Exchange (YOP-X)…
World Autism Day
Did you know, approximately 1 in 70 people are considered to be on the autism spectrum? This means it is likely that you have met or will meet someone with autism in your lifetime. It is estimated there are more than 205,000 Australians living with autism, with the prevalence of the disorder on the rise.…
Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
Today (26th March), the VIVA! team has popped on some purple to mark Purple Day 2021 and raise awareness of the 250,000 Australians living with epilepsy. Started by 9-year-old, Cassidy Megan, Purple Day is a global initiative with the goal of encouraging discussions around the disease, increasing support for those affected, and providing a platform…
Endometriosis Awareness Month – March into Yellow
This Endometriosis Awareness Month, Endometriosis Australia is calling for everyone to ‘March into Yellow’ to raise awareness of endometriosis and encourage public discussion on the largely invisible illness. Endometriosis affects more than 830,000 women in Australia and occurs when tissue, similar to the uterus lining, forms outside of the womb, growing around the ovaries, bowel…
The critical role of empathy in effective communications
Empathy is key to effective healthcare communication. The ability to put oneself in another’s shoes, trying to understand what they may be feeling, and acknowledging the significant impact an illness or life event can have on a person’s wellbeing is crucial to building trust and connecting in a meaningful way. Every day, the VIVA! team…
World’s Greatest Shave
Did you know, 47 Australians are diagnosed with blood cancer every day? That’s one person every 31 minutes. According to The Leukaemia Foundation, this figure is set to increase to 100 by 2035. This week marks the World’s Greatest Shave, an initiative run by the Leukaemia Foundation to help raise funds and support those living…
VIVA! talks to Professor Anna DeFazio about Ovarian Cancer
February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, dedicated to raising much needed awareness and funds for research to improve management of this deadly disease and providing support for women diagnosed and their families. This week, we spoke with Professor Anna DeFazio – the Sydney-West Chair in Translational Cancer Research, The University of Sydney and Director of…
It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later
Regulatory codes, compliance teams, acronyms and writing gut-wrenching patient case studies were probably the first and hardest things to get my head around when I jumped headfirst into the healthcare industry and life at VIVA! Communications almost four years ago. As a Brit coming Down Under from an in-house role in the sports industry, there…