Hobart played host to the 39^th Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) Golden Target Awards on Monday, October 26, 2015.

The PR industry’s night-of-nights was staged during the 2015 National PRIA Conference (October 26-27), attended by a packed house of leading agency and in-house PR practitioners nation-wide.

VIVA! Communications was nominated for a total of four awards in the Health Organisations (x3) and Public Affairs (x1) categories.

We are delighted to have clinched the top gong for ‘Our Plea for Life’ campaign, involving our partnership with the small but most deserving aHUS patient support group requiring access to the life-saving treatment, Soliris (eculizumab). Our campaign led to the December 1, 2014 PBS listing and $63 million Federal allocation over the ensuing four years for the only clinically proven, available treatment that could save their lives.

Our team also secured a Highly Commended award for our ‘Lungs4Life – driving adult protection against pneumococcal pneumonia’ campaign, performed in partnership with Lung Foundation Australia, and a Commended award for supporting ‘The world’s largest and most rigorous investigation into anorexia nervosa.’

In the Public Affairs category, we were also Commended for our ‘Helping #saveaHUSlives’ campaign, that saw the aHUS patient support group secure Government funding for the life-saving treatment for their ultra-rare blood disease, Soliris.

“This is a phenomenal result and a most deserving reward for the months of hard work, determination, initiative and savvy PR invested by all members of our team at VIVA!,” said Principal of VIVA! Communications, Kirsten Bruce.

“We look forward to continuing to partner with our clients in producing cutting-edge public health campaigns.”

Kirsten was also inducted as a Fellow into the Public Relations Institute of Australia at the College of Fellows Annual Dinner in Hobart on October 25, 2015.

“Becoming a PRIA Fellow is such an honour,” Kirsten said.

“I feel truly privileged to a member of this group of the nation’s leading PR practitioners and am indebted to the College of Fellows Council and the PRIA National Board for their recognition.”

For a round up of the 2015 PRIA National Conference visit our Facebook for photos (Insert hyperlink).