We know young adults aged 18-25 living with IBD need a support program that focuses on your needs. So, we are excited to announce that the online Young Adult Support (YAS) has arrived! With the help of young adults with IBD like you and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), CCA has created YAS in response to the support you’ve asked for. Keep an eye on what’s happening in this space to see how you can get involved.
On this page you will find:
MEET YOUNG ADULT SUPPORT PROGRAM’S CHAMPION FOR 2025!
AIYAHNA BROWNING
Hi there! My name is Aiyahna, and I’m honoured to be the Young Adult Support Program Champion for 2025. I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2020, when I was just 15 years old, but have fortunately maintained remission for most of the time since. My passion for raising awareness of this illness has led me to work with CCA, where I’ve shared my story, contributed to initiatives like YEP! Online, and advocated for young people with IBD. In 2024, I was one of CCA’s IBD Awareness Month Champions, where I shared my journey through social media posts, participated in an online forum, and spoke at an event at Parliament House to highlight the realities of living with IBD as a young person. I look forward to continuing this work, amplifying the voices of young people with IBD and supporting others on their journey.
Read more about Aiyahna here:
The next group meeting is on 19th May.
| Date | The third Monday of every third month |
| Time | 7:00pm (AEST) |
| Venue | This group will be online. For further enquiries, please telephone 1800 138 029 or email us. |
To register, click the button below and follow the prompts.
Caitlin
Caitlin has been involved with CCA since the inception stages of our Young Adult Support program. As a member of the panel of young adults advising on the development of the service, Caitlin has provided a significant contribution. She is not only the facilitator of the YAS support group and co-facilitator of the Sydney support group but has also taken an active part in many CCA activities such as our Kid’s Fun Day Event in Sydney.
We would like to welcome Jessica to the YAS program crew!
Jess has over 8 years of experience consulting on the communication strategy for such organisations as Google and the United Nations. She is helping clients develop and meet business goals through strategic thinking, complex project management and multi-stakeholder engagement. Jess is one of our support group facilitators and will be overseeing the editing of the e-newsletter.
“Like many, my own recent UC diagnosis has lead to a passion about all things IBD. Since my diagnosis I have found solace in immersing myself in IBD education – from reading the latest clinical research papers to listening to GI podcasts in my spare time.”
‘My name is Bowen and I am an IBD patient and also a physician trainee. My experiences with my gastroenterologist, when I was diagnosed, inspired me to study medicine and my experiences as a patient cultivated my interest in gastroenterology as a career. Living with IBD is a challenge and I hope bring my experiences from both ends as a doctor and as a patient to Crohn’s and Colitis Australia. One specific area I will focus on is making research articles about IBD more accessible to everyone by focusing on the main points and conclusions. In my spare time I enjoy swimming and catching the latest TV shows.’
For information on medication, click the button below to find the appropriate information.
The Young Adult Service has been developed thanks to Youth Health Forum Incubator Grant.
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