Australian health and wellness PR agency VIVA! Communications is today celebrating its 15^th birthday, armed with news of completing a record financial year.

Established in 2002 by principal Kirsten Bruce, VIVA! Communications is 100 per cent focused on the health and wellness sector, and successfully services clientele that range from large pharmaceutical companies through to medical research institutions, patient support groups, to small, not for profit (NFP) companies requiring a public voice.

“When I founded VIVA! as an independent Australian strategic health and wellness communications agency 15 years ago, I never dreamt it would be so successful, and would still be going strong, so many years later,” Bruce said.

“It’s been an incredible journey. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at VIVA! Communications, and of the exceptionally high-quality services we offer our existing and growing clientele.”

As VIVA! Communications enters its 16th year of operation, it continues to grow from strength to strength, locally and internationally.

As the sole Australian representative of Global PR (GHPR) – the world’s largest network of independently owned health and medical PR agencies – VIVA! Communications has played an integral role in securing business not only locally, but across the Asia-Pacific region, through creative strategy and a strong partnership formulation.

According to VIVA! Communications managing director Paul Jans, remaining independent has enabled the agency to think creatively and deftly at all times to meet clients’ communication goals.

“Increasingly, curious and status quo-averse pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are engaging flexible, nimble and highly experienced independent agencies and partnerships to provide strategic communications counsel, as opposed to the rigid, traditional holding companies,” he said.

“Through GLOBALHealthPR, clients gain a wealth of benefits, including the opportunity to obtain local, regional and global health communication strategies that come with a streamlined, central administration and one key point of contact.

“This independent model allows clients to access superior local and regional marketplace insights, a trusted global network, and experts across a wide range of areas.”

Recent years has seen VIVA! Communications attract a diversity of clients from across the health and wellness arena, including Amgen, MSD, Ashley and Martin, Apotex, Medibio, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

The company has also celebrated the second anniversary of its Queensland office, which has been vital in executing successful local and national consumer health and wellness communication campaigns for QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Lung Foundation of Australia, and Medreleaf Australia, among others.

Bruce reinforced Jans’ point that independence has proven critical to VIVA! Communications’ long-standing success.

“Independence affords our agency freedom and flexibility, which in turn, breeds creativity and passion,” she said.

“Independence allows us to team with clients whom we like, and respect, who share our unrivalled passion for health and wellness, on projects that are frequently fascinating, and inspiring,” she said.

“Independence arms us with the opportunity to make strategic, sound business choices that are tailored to our agency, rather than to a parent holding company or another agency.

“Independence offers our clientele ongoing access to senior consultants with vast contacts and experience.

“Finally, independence provides our staff with the chance to make a genuine, invaluable contribution to the business, its direction, and longevity.”

Having achieved eight per cent per cent year-on-year fee/revenue growth in the past financial year, Bruce said VIVA! Communications is looking forward to further success in the future.