In early August 2025, Victoria’s Department of Health issued a public health alert after confirming eight cases of mpox – including five locally acquired in Melbourne. While mpox is far less transmissible than COVID-19, it can still cause serious illness, and health officials are encouraging anyone with symptoms to seek medical advice and consider vaccination.
When an outbreak makes the news, clear, timely communication is critical. In today’s fast-moving media environment, people don’t just want to read about health advice – they want to see it, understand it quickly, and trust the source. That’s where strong, well-produced health video content plays an essential role — and where Melbourne-based video production teams like The Jasper Picture Company can make a difference.
The Current Situation
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a rare viral disease that spreads through close contact. Symptoms often include a distinctive rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and body aches. The Victorian Department of Health has made free vaccines available through participating GPs and sexual health services across Melbourne.
Raising awareness quickly is key — the faster people know the signs and how to protect themselves, the more likely it is that further spread can be prevented.
Why Clear Public Communication Matters
When health news breaks, misinformation can travel faster than facts. We saw this during COVID-19 and even during severe flu seasons. Clear messaging isn’t just about providing information – it’s about delivering it in a way that people notice, remember, and act on.
For government health teams, hospitals, not-for-profits, and community organisations, this often means combining trusted messaging with professional health video production so important details are communicated consistently across multiple platforms.
The Role of Video in Outbreak Response
Video brings health messages to life in ways text alone can’t:
- Visual education – Demonstrating what symptoms look like and how to respond.
- Faster reach – Video content on social platforms can spread important updates within hours.
- Emotional connection – Storytelling can make people care enough to act.
Formats that work well in outbreak settings include:
- Short explainer animations tailored for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
- Expert interviews that lend authority and credibility.
- Public service announcements in multiple languages.
- Live Q&A streams to address public concerns in real time.
Our work during COVID-19, producing 23 language versions of key health information videos for North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network, proved that multilingual video production isn’t just about translation — it’s about adapting tone, imagery, and messaging so every community can connect with and trust the advice.
Why Speed Matters in Public Health Messaging
When a public health issue emerges, timing is everything. Getting accurate information to people quickly can help limit the spread and ease public concern. Yet, government health communications often take longer than they should, caught up in rounds of approvals and careful wording.
While accuracy is essential, waiting for the “perfect” message can mean missing the moment when people are most ready to act. In those early days, clear, simple health video updates, even if not yet wrapped in a full campaign, can make a big difference.
A fast, honest “here’s what we know and here’s what you can do” builds trust and buys time for more detailed advice to follow.
Looking Ahead
As mpox cases in Melbourne are monitored, clear and timely communication will remain essential. Well-produced video can help public health messages cut through the noise, combat misinformation, and ensure accurate information reaches the right audiences fast.
Whether it’s government health departments, hospitals, not-for-profits, or community groups, those looking to protect public health should consider how video content can help inform, reassure, and mobilise their communities.
For Health Comms Teams: Practical Takeaways
Key Messaging Tips
- Keep it simple – Avoid jargon or complicated terms.
- Lead with what matters – Start with a fact, problem, or benefit your audience cares about most.
- Use clear, concrete examples – Link advice to everyday life.
- Be consistent – Keep tone and style steady to build trust.
- Offer one clear action at a time – Make it realistic and actionable.
- Show the ‘why’ – People follow advice when they understand the reason.
- Keep it positive – Focus on benefits rather than fear.
Video Format Ideas
- 15–30 sec social media clips for urgent updates.
- 60–90 sec explainers with on-screen graphics for Facebook/YouTube.
- Subtitled versions for silent autoplay and accessibility.
- Content in multiple languages from the outset, not as an afterthought.
Best Practice for Crisis Video
In a public health crisis, the way video content is planned, produced, and distributed can determine whether a message simply reaches people or actually drives them to act.
Trust: Use recognised and credible messengers — local GPs, community leaders, senior health officials.
Clarity: Keep it short, direct, and jargon-free.
Accessibility: Build in captions, Auslan, high-contrast visuals, and multilingual versions from the start.
Timeliness: Have content ready within hours of an update.
Platform Fit: Optimise videos for the platforms your audience uses most.
Learning from the Experts: The WHO’s Guidance on Communicating Risk
The World Health Organisation’s Communicating Risk in Public Health Emergencies guide is built on lessons from past outbreaks. It stresses delivering accurate information early, in multiple languages, via channels people already trust.
For Melbourne’s mpox response, this means combining trusted health messaging with professional video production that’s fast, inclusive, and tailored to our diverse communities.
Video Works Best as Part of a Bigger Campaign
Video is the attention-grabber — but follow-up channels like emails, social posts, posters, and newsletters reinforce the message. In outbreak communication, every channel should push the same core message forward.
Final Thoughts
Public health challenges like mpox remind us that getting the right information to the right people, at the right time, is as important as the medical response itself.
In Melbourne, with its diverse communities and varied media habits, there’s no single channel that will reach everyone — but video remains one of the fastest, most effective tools for cutting through.At The Jasper Picture Company, we help health teams, government agencies, and community organisations plan, produce, and deliver health communication videos that are clear, timely, and trusted. Whether it’s an urgent alert, a “what to do” guide, or reassurance from a familiar face, strong visual communication can slow the spread of disease, counter misinformation, and keep communities informed.