VIVA! Communications

04/06/2026

June marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, & Team VIVA! is proud to be championing the importance of early detection in the fight against Australia's second-deadliest cancer. 💙

Here's the most important thing to know: when caught early, more than 90% of bowel cancers can be treated successfully. Early detection genuniely saves lives, & that starts with screening.

If you're aged 50–74, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will send you a free at-home kit every two years. If you’re aged 45–49, you can request one too. It's simple, discreet, & may just be one of the most important things you do for yourself this year. So don’t delay.

Bowel cancer isn't just an older person's disease. Rates are rising among younger Australians, & our nation has the world's highest rate of early-onset bowel cancer. While research into the exact causes is ongoing, lifestyle factors, including low-fibre diets, high processed meat consumption, reduced physical activity, & increased alcohol intake are all thought to play a role.

Whatever your age, know the signs: visible blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits or unexplained weight loss. If you notice any of these, see your GP without delay.

Share this post to help spread the word. Early detection saves lives. 🎗️



Bowel Cancer Australia

29/05/2026

Snapshots from a fabulous morning Team VIVA! spent filming with award-winning patient advocate, women's health speaker & podcaster Luan Lawrenson-Woods, reflecting on her history with breast cancer & reconstruction, highlighting the critical importance of early detection.

Watch this space for more. 👀

20/05/2026

✨ Awards season is here & VIVA! Communications has a seat at the judging table.

Entries are now open for the 2026 PRIME Awards Australia, recognising excellence in healthcare communications across Australia's pharmaceutical & life sciences industries.

We're proud to share that our Principal & Founder, Kirsten Bruce, has once again been appointed as a PRIME Awards judge. 🎉

With 24 years leading VIVA! Communications & extensive experience as both a PRIME Awards & Communication and Public Relations Australia Golden Target Awards judge, Kirsten knows exactly what makes a submission shine.

This year, she's sharing her insider tips & tricks to help entrants craft a winning submission. Check out her advice below.👇

Ready to make your entry count? Our team is here to help. Get in touch here https://vivacommunications.com.au/contact/

19/05/2026

Today, May 19, 2026, is World IBD Day, an important public health awareness initiative designed to draw attention to the experiences of those living with Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis.

May is also Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month, & this year, Crohn's & Colitis Australia is shining a light on the impact of delays in IBD diagnosis for both patients & our economy.

Crohn’s & Colitis Australia’s State of the Nation in IBD Report found:
- Over 1 in 3 Australians living with IBD experience symptoms for more than a year before receiving a diagnosis;
- One in 10 Australians wait 5+ years before securing a diagnosis.

Increased awareness & recognition of IBD symptoms is a crucial step towards advancing early diagnosis of IBD, enabling improved care & support for IBD patients & reducing the cost of delayed diagnosis on our healthcare system.

World IBD Day, alongside Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Month, is an important reminder to be alert to IBD symptoms, & seek trusted medical attention from the beginning.

Crohn’s & Colitis Australia has a free IBD symptom checker available on their website, which you can access here 👉
https://crohnsandcolitis.org.au/symptom-checker/

13/05/2026

💛 May is Thyroid Awareness Month 💛

1 in 10 Australians will experience a thyroid disorder in their lifetime, yet many will remain under-diagnosed due to symptoms being mistaken for stress, ageing or fatigue.

This month, the Australian Thyroid Foundationtion is encouraging greater awareness of thyroid symptoms, diagnosis & early detection.

05/05/2026

Happy Heart Week! ❤️

May 4-10 marks Heart Week – a national health initiative dedicated to raising awareness & sparking conversations about heart health, & taking simple, proactive steps to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

This Heart Week is a great reminder of the small steps we can take each day to protect our hearts.

Swipe across to discover practical ways to support a healthier heart. 👉


Heart Foundation Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Edwards Lifesciences

22/04/2026

Really enjoyed being part of the Consumer Healthcare Products Australia Roundtable Lunch at the Sofitel Sydney today – a great mix of people across policy, research & industry all in the same room having a genuinely open conversation about where healthcare is heading.

Hearing from Professor Kirsten McCaffery & Professor Tony Lawler was a highlight, particularly around the role health literacy & regulation play in shaping better patient outcomes.

What stood out was the focus on moving beyond examining change in practice. More of these conversations, please 👏

Thanks to Consumer Healthcare Products Australia for hosting such a thoughtful session.

15/04/2026

✨ Welcome back, Erin! ✨

We’re so excited to welcome Erin back to VIVA! Communications – this time as an Account Executive. 🎉

Erin first joined us as an academic intern, where she quickly made a strong impression through her initiative, curiosity, & team contribution.

After making such a strong impression during her academic internship through her initiative, Erin has returned to the team!

Since completing her Bachelor of Arts & Advanced Studies, majoring in Media, Communications & History at The University of Sydney, she brings a strong foundation in writing, research & strategic communications.✏️📚

“I'm looking forward to continuing to work alongside the VIVA! team to make an impact in the health communications sector,” she said.

💫 We’re thrilled to have Erin back as she steps into this exciting next chapter with us.

10/04/2026

In today’s communications landscape, trust is under more pressure than ever, especially for our pharma, medtech & biotech clients across ANZ & APAC.

We’re proud to share that our Principal & Owner, Kirsten Bruce, has been recognised by Clarity & Jonno White WI-DG-TE as one of Australia & New Zealand’s 35 Essential PR Thought Leaders for 2026, in the health category.

Her work in health communications sits at the intersection of science, regulation & public understanding, shaping how clarity, credibility & trust are built & sustained.

A well-earned recognition of leadership that doesn’t just communicate, but shapes understanding where it counts. 💙

Read more: www.consultclarity.org/post/pr-thought-leaders-australia-nz

Public relations in Australia and New Zealand is living through one of its most consequential moments. The profession that exists to help organisations earn trust is operating in an era when trust itself, in institutions, in media, in corporations, in governments, is at its lowest recorded levels. T...

07/04/2026

Every day, we encounter health advice – some reliable, some misleading, & some that simply isn’t accurate.

So how do we know what to trust? 💭

Today marks World Health Day – a global moment, led by the World Health Organization, to reflect on the health challenges we face, & the role we all play in addressing them.

This year’s theme, “Together for health. Stand with science,” is an important reminder that behind every statistic, every breakthrough, & every decision are real people, real lives, & real outcomes.

At a time when misinformation can spread faster than facts, choosing evidence-based, trustworthy information isn’t just important – it can make all the difference.

Because better health starts with understanding, trust, & informed choices. 🧬🔬🧪🧫

This World Health Day, let’s stand together – for science, for truth, & for better health for all.



World Health Organization (WHO)