final bupa australian health influencer blog award finalists final
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Media Release
Friday 28 June 2013
Finalists announced for Australian Health Influencer Blog Awards
Thirty of the country’s most inspiring and informative health blogs were acknowledged today as finalists for the inaugural Bupa Health Influencer Blog Awards.
The winners will be announced at the Bupa Health Master Class at St Kilda’s Luna Park on Friday 12 July among a congregation of nominees whom readers and judges found to be the most motivational health blogs in six categories. They included: healthy lifestyle, health eating, family time, positive life change, personal development/self care, and social good.
Matt Allison, Media and Corporate Communications Manager for Bupa, said it was great to see that more than 600 nominations were received.
“The response to these awards was incredible and just goes to show how many influential blogs and supportive readers there are in Australia,” he said.
“We were blown away by the high calibre, not just of the blogs chosen as finalists, but all the nominations. The judges had a really tough time narrowing down the field and the end result is a fantastic array of inspiring health blogs.”
The judging panel included health advocate and blogging expert Kathie Melocco; body+soul editor Gemma Sutherland; Bupa Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Bates; and Bupa health ambassador and Olympic swimmer Matt Welsh.
To announce the winners and speak about their own health related journey at the Master Class will be Logie winner and co-host of The Project, Carrie Bickmore, as well as the 2007 Australian of the Year (Local hero) and founder of social experiment Lentil As Anything, Shanaka Fernando. Also presenting will be Nicole Avery, a mum of five who has turned her flair for spreadsheets and home organisation into a flourishing business, Planning With Kids; and Dr. Paul Bates, Bupa’s Chief Medical Officer and passionate healthcare advocate.
Winners of each category will receive an Apple iPad* and the opportunity for their blogs to be highlighted in Bupa’s member communications, which is provided to millions of Bupa customers. One overall winner will also receive $5000 to spend on improving their health, happiness and wellbeing.
Matt Allison said that bloggers were leading the charge in the influence they had over people’s health and wellbeing.
“Blogs are so accessible and people feel like they can relate. They can share the triumphs and the hurdles of trying to maintain a healthy way of living, and in the process, create a community whereby people help each other out in an effort to make positive life changes,” he said.
“With our increasingly busy lives we know that sometimes people can take their health for granted and that’s why we think it’s so important as a health partner to really reward those people who help and reach out to others.
“Bupa acknowledges the important role bloggers are playing in promoting discussion around health causes and their ongoing commitment to make healthier and happier Australians.”
The complete finalist list (in alphabetical order):
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Bushwalking Blog
Fit Mother Hubbard
HEALTHY EATING
Ascension Kitchen
One Handed Cooks
Path to Wellness
Sarah Wilson
The Wellness Project
Super Charged Food
Veggies and Me
Wholesome Cook
FAMILY TIME
Busy Bug Kits
Caro and Co
Easy Peasy Kids
Mum Media
Squiggle Mum
POSITIVE LIFE CHANGE
Babbling Bandit
Body Image Movement
Carly Findlay
Random Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mum
Take Charge Now
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT/SELF CARE
Inspired Performance Today
Julie Anne
Naked Lady Nutrition
The Wellness Warrior
This Is Life Blood
SOCIAL GOOD
$120 Food Challenge
Diary of a Mad Cow
Skin Deep Project
The Happiness Cocktail
That Space In Between
For more information visit www.bupa.com.au/BlogAwards
* Apple, iPad, iPhone, iPod and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc.,registered in the U.S. and other countries.
@BupaAustralia #BupaBlogAwards
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For further information please contact:
Mandy Griffiths Porter Novelli Melbourne Phone: 03 9289 9555 Email: [email protected]
Matt Allison Bupa Phone: 03 9937 4624 Email: [email protected]
About Bupa Australia and New Zealand
Bupa Australia and New Zealand’s purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. It provides health insurance, aged care and related services and complementary healthcare services through Bupa Health Dialog, Peak Health Management and Blink Optical. Bupa focuses on providing sustainable healthcare solutions that represent real value, and on leading the industry in the promotion of preventive health and wellness. Bupa’s Australian and New Zealand businesses are part of the international Bupa Group, which cares for more than 30 million people in over 190 countries.