There is little understanding in the wider community about Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and symptoms are often invisible. For Australians living with Crohn's and colitis, the disease can have a serious impact their personal life and career, affecting physical and mental health.
What is Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are lifelong gut disorders that are collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
These chronic conditions can cause ulceration and inflammation in the colon (ulcerative colitis) or any part of the digestive system (Crohn's disease). There is no cure for the diseases.
The conditions are becoming more prevalent, more severe and more complex and are being diagnosed in more and more young people.
Over 100,000 Australians live with these conditions and this number is growing.
Some people living with IBD may have little to no symptoms. For others, inflammation can become so severe that sufferers need to be hospitalised and require surgery.
The conditions are largely unpredictable with significant variation in the degree and pattern of symptoms affecting each person. The relapsing and chronic nature of the disorder has broader impacts on a person’s emotional, physical and social wellbeing.
Why do Live Fearless Challenge?
“I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 14 though I had had gut issues ever since I was born. I was always missing school because of appointments, tests, hospitalisations, surgeries, infusions, and so on. It really affected me mentally in the beginning because I just wanted to be a ‘normal’ teenager, I wanted my life back and I felt robbed of my prime years.”
– Indiana, diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 15
Crohn's & Colitis Australia - what we do
Crohn's & Colitis Australia's (CCA) primary purpose is to provide critical support services and resources to people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whilst CCA can't cure the illness it can remove some of the burden for people living with IBD and their families.
We are investing in improved treatment methods and a cure by supporting research into priorities determined by people with IBD, carers, healthcare practitioners and clinical researchers. We also continue to advocate for world best treatments and health services for those living with IBD. Through our programs, we offer education and support – in the form of support groups, IBD Helplines, Kids Fun Days’ and Camps, online resources and more – for Australia’s growing Crohn’s and colitis community, and work to raise much needed awareness about this disease. Importantly, our many of our services are offered free of charge.
Your impact during the Live Fearless Challenge
CCA relies on the generosity of volunteers, donors and community fundraising to continue our work.
Now in it's seventh year, the Live Fearless Challenge has been a huge success, with nearly 30,000 people involved and covering almost 500,000 kilometres. In the process, they have raised more than $1,500,000 to help fund new and ongoing research, education, advocacy and support programs.
Research
We build research capacity by providing research scholarships and supporting clinical projects in the field of Crohn’s and colitis.
This year we launched the IBD Paediatric Quality of Care Hospital Audit Research Report at an event hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Autoimmune Diseases lead by Ms Jenny Ware MP on 30 May 2024.
Education
We deliver free programs and services to enhance community knowledge and understanding of Crohn’s and colitis, hosting valuable livestream forums mutiple times per year.
We also help increase knowledge of IBD in the healthcare industry through intiatives like GutSmart, an education platform for dietitians, psychologists and general practitioners.
Advocacy
We advocate for improved quality of IBD care with more effective and affordable treatments, multidisciplinary team support and other changes to the health system which will improve health services for people living with Crohn's and colitis.
The IBD National Action Plan launched by the Minister for Health in March 2019 highlights key priority areas for further action.
Support
We develop more services and programs to support young people, including but not limited to a national program of support groups, Youth Camps, a Kids Fun Day, and a youth empowerment program (YEP!).
These programs connect children and young adults living with Crohn’s or colitis to others who share their experience and help them tackle key challenges.
