Health PR
From campaigns to change: why strategic communications is health system infrastructure
By Kirsten Bruce, Founder & Owner, VIVA! Communications Awareness does not equate to access. Visibility does not equal system reform. And without strategy, storytelling alone fails to improve health outcomes. In eating disorders – one of Australia’s most complex and high-risk mental health conditions – we’ve reached a pivotal moment. Public understanding is improving. Research…
Read MoreAPAC’s expanding tropical disease risk: Are pharma leaders passing the test?
Across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, tropical diseases – neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis (JE), chikungunya, and Zika virus – are spreading faster than ever, driven by climate change, urbanisation, and unprecedented population mobility. Yet even as outbreaks intensify, attention, preparedness, and sustained communication investment often peak during…
Read MoreFrom control to connection: how healthcare communications has evolved
Merely two decades ago, health communications prioritised control. Today, it’s about connection. Organisations that recognise this shift are well-positioned to earn trust and engage professionals, patients, and communities. In the mid-2000s, the media release was king. Healthcare communications primarily revolved around product announcements, regulatory approvals (PBS listings and TGA announcements), funding updates, and clinical milestones.…
Read MoreFrom measurement to meaning: redefining modern public relations
Public relations has long been assessed through its outputs: what was published, where it appeared, and how far it travelled. These measures still matter. But in a communications environment shaped by platforms, algorithms and AI-driven discovery, they are no longer sufficient on their own. The question facing PR today is not whether it can generate…
Read MoreMeningococcal disease moves fast – our vaccination strategy must move faster
Meningococcal disease is one of the fastest-moving infections in Australia. It can become fatal within hours.What begins as mild, flu-like symptoms can escalate within 24 to 48 hours into a life-threatening illness. Even with rapid treatment, up to one in ten patients will succumb to the disease. Those that survive often face life-changing complications, including…
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