NEWS
Students raise awareness of heart disease in women
RMIT students have been working with non-profit organisation Her Heart to educate Australian women how they can reduce their risk of heart disease.
Sasha Aranyi and Public Relations Campaigns students show Dr Linda Worrall-Carter and Tina Manolitsas from Her Heart the results of their work.
The newly established not-for-profit approached RMIT to work with students from the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) to develop a communication strategy.
Her Heart wanted to ensure it became the go-to place for Australian women to access the latest information and lifestyle advice around heart disease.
After a comprehensive research phase, students developed the One Woman, One Hour campaign, highlighting the shocking statistic that one Australian woman will die each hour of heart disease.
The campaign focused on informing Australian women of the risks, symptoms and prevention tactics, identifying and building relationships with potential partners and sponsors, and developing creative ways of engaging women considered at risk.
Tina Manolitsas, Her Heart Director of Marketing and Communications, said she was delighted to work with students and share their marketing plan and communication strategy.
“This assisted students to develop targeted messages to key audience groups," she said.
“Outcomes from all three groups will assist us to raise greater awareness and help us reach our end goal."
The project, part of tjhe final-year subject Public Relations Campaigns, offers students a transformative educational experience through work integrated learning (WIL).
The subject is designed to prepare students for working in industry, replicating a work environment including working in competitive teams and managing all aspects of the delivery of a public relations campaign on behalf of a client to a timeline and within a budget.
Justin Rogers, lecturer in the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations), RMIT wanted to encourage students to engage with the cities they live in and the world around them.
“Working closely with industry our students are able to develop their skills and apply what they learn in the classroom to help solve complex societal problems such as health issues," he said.
“Through projects like this one, our students are able to witness first-hand how strategic communication can make a positive difference in their community.”
Student teams produced a series of videos utilising online animation software to be shared across Her Heart’s social media channels.
Students who worked on the One Woman, One Hour campaign: Sasha Aranyi, Ellie Banksm, Holly Capomolla, Bu Ken Chan, Julian Cook, Charlotte Coulton, Emma Dennis, Stephanie Edwards, India Egan Natalie Gyftopoulos, Sian Morris, Rebecca Phin, Annalise Tomaselli, Grace Wearne and Ellen Weigall.
Sasha Aranyi said she found the project extremely useful in enhancing her ability to be able to talk to clients and meet their expectations through the use of communication and collaboration.
“The project was great for students because it gave us insight into real working conditions and enabled us to put skills we have learnt at RMIT into practice,” Aranyi said.
A partnership strategy outlining potential partners to help Her Heart grow awareness and increase donations over time was also developed, as well as an online fitness challenge to help Her Heart build an online community of women interested in reducing their risk of heart disease.
Story: Justin Rogers