Crohn’s & Colitis Australia Calls on Australians to Demand Action this election for the 180,000 People Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

SYDNEY, 17TH APRIL 2025: As the federal election approaches, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) supported by Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA), Dietitian Crohn’s Colitis Australian Network (DECCAN), Crohn’s Colitis Cure, Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) and Gastroenterological Nurses College of Australia (GENCA) are urging the public to join our call for urgent government action to improve care for the nearly 180,000 Australians living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – a chronic, debilitating condition that disproportionately impacts young working-age Australians and costs the economy billions each year.

In response to the State of the Nation in IBD in Australia report, CCA has proposed a practical and evidence-based solution to the government. But after a request for funding was denied, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia is now asking everyday Australians to demand better from their local MPs and candidates.

Leanne Raven, CEO of CCA commented: “We’ve shown the government the impact of IBD and exactly what needs to be done to improve lives and reduce healthcare system strain. Now we need public support to get the political will to act on our proposed plans. With the election coming up, we’re asking Canberra to put their money where their mouth is and make a no-regrets decision.”

IBD Is a Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight

Unlike many chronic conditions, IBD hits young people hardest. The peak age of onset is between 15 and 29, meaning 145,000 Australians with IBD are of working age, with many struggling to stay in work or school. Outside of painful gastrointestinal symptoms, 70% experience fatigue and/or brain fog, while 48% suffer from anxiety or depression.

Australians with IBD also face long diagnostic delays, with over one in three living with symptoms for a year or more before being diagnosed, and more than one in ten waiting over five years. Even after diagnosis, 41% endure five years of active, debilitating disease before achieving remission.

The result: IBD patients are “frequent flyers” in our hospitals, with higher rates of hospitalisation and emergency department visits per person than cancer or heart disease. The economic impact is staggering, $7.8 billion this year, including $1.6 billion in lost wages and $759 million in hospital costs.

“IBD isn’t just a medical issue, it’s a productivity and economic crisis. People are suffering and so is our economy and it doesn’t have to be this way,” said CCA’S CEO Leanne Raven.

A Plan That Works: The Living Well with IBD Program

CCA’s plan includes a $34.1 million investment over four years, representing less than 0.01% of the national health budget. It would deliver:

• The Living Well with IBD Program to provide multidisciplinary care and move more people into remission.
• A national IBD Clinical Care Standard to improve care quality.
• Education for health professionals to reduce diagnostic delays.
• An IBD Clinical Registry and digital health infrastructure to drive innovation and attract research.

The return on investment for a four year investment is undeniable:

• 23,400 people would gain access to multidisciplinary care.
• 9,360 people would reach remission at least a year sooner.
• The probability of remission jumps from 15% to 58%.
• Hospitalisations would drop by 30%, emergency visits by 78%.
• Workforce participation increases by 26%, and student retention triples.
• The proposal would generate $200 million in benefits by 2035, with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 7.1 over four years.

Your Voice Matters

CCA has created advocacy tools to help Australians write to their MPs and candidates in the lead-up to the federal election.

“IBD is costing too many Australians their health, their income and their quality of life, and the cost to the country is simply unsustainable. We have the solution. What we need now is action. Contact your local MP via email, phone, social media or talk to them when you see them out campaigning”, said Leanne Raven. 

Visit www.crohnsandcolitis.org.au/advocacy to find out how you can make a difference and follow @crohnsandcolitisau on social media and #FlushTheStigma.

ENDS

For more information, interviews or case studies of those living with IBD, please contact:

Mia Borg | Maven PR | [email protected] | 0413 801 187

Sophie Muir | Maven PR | [email protected] | 0400 111 390

Crohn’s & Colitis Australia’s complete plan and call to action can be viewed here: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Information-for-Decision-Makers-Final.pdf

About Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA): Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing support services, advocacy, and research funding for those affected by Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. CCA strives to improve the quality of life for people living with these chronic conditions through education, support programs, and public awareness campaigns.

What is Crohn’s Disease? Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive system. Inflammation can cause redness, swelling and pain, and is the body’s response to injury or irritation. The inflammation caused by the disease usually affects the end of the small bowel and/or the large bowel. Crohn’s disease can affect the full thickness of the bowel and this can result in narrowing (strictures) which can block the bowel (obstruction) or small holes through the bowel (fistulas) to the skin, other loops of bowel or other organs, sometimes causing a collection of pus called an abscess.

What is Ulcerative Colitis? Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can cause inflammation and ulceration in the large intestine (colon and rectum). Inflammation can cause redness, swelling and pain, and is the body’s response to injury or irritation. Ulcers (sores) also develop on the surface of the intestines inner lining which may bleed and produce mucus. The inflammation almost always involves the rectum and may extend up the large intestine, either when it first develops or sometimes extends over time.