IBD and Crohn’s & Colitis Resources for Australia

Australia has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world. The 2025 IBD State of the Nation report by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia estimates that 179,420 Australians are living with IBD, of whom just over 91,000 have active disease. That number is expected to reach 200,000 within a decade, rising faster than in comparable countries including Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

A 2021 study of more than 2.4 million patients across 481 Australian general practices found IBD in 653 per 100,000 people: 306 per 100,000 for Crohn’s disease and 334 per 100,000 for ulcerative colitis.

IBD affects much more than the gut. The same State of the Nation report found that 70% of people with IBD experience fatigue or brain fog and 48% experience anxiety or depression. More than 1 in 3 waited longer than a year for a diagnosis, and out-of-pocket costs average about $5,900 per person each year.

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Where to start. If you think you might have IBD, start with a GP, who can arrange tests and refer you to a gastroenterologist (a specialist in the gut and digestive system). You need a current referral to claim Medicare benefits for a specialist visit; most come from a GP. Not sure what to do? The free healthdirect helpline, 1800 022 222, has registered nurses 24 hours a day who can tell you what to do next, including whether you need an emergency department. It works anywhere in Australia; in Victoria the same number answers as NURSE-ON-CALL. If you live in Queensland, you can also call the state’s own 24-hour nurse line, 13 HEALTH, on 13 43 25 84.

Paying for medicines. Many IBD medicines are subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Biologic medicines are subsidised only when a specialist prescribes them and your condition meets the PBS criteria, which your IBD team checks. For most PBS medicines you pay up to $25 a script, or $7.70 with a concession card. If your family’s PBS costs in a calendar year reach the Safety Net threshold, your scripts become cheaper or free for the rest of that year: ask your pharmacist to keep a record. Crohn’s & Colitis Australia explains biologics and the PBS, and the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) has plain-language information sheets on IBD medicines.

Work and money. Crohn’s & Colitis Australia explains your rights at work, including under the Disability Discrimination Act, in its workplace guides for employees and employers, and lists financial support that may help with costs. Full-time and part-time employees get paid sick and carer’s leave (10 days a year for full-time work); the Fair Work Ombudsman explains who gets it. If you’re sick or injured and can’t do your usual work for a short time, you may be able to get Services Australia’s JobSeeker Payment. The Disability Support Pension is for a condition likely to last more than 2 years that stops you working.

Children and teens. Crohn’s & Colitis Australia runs youth camps and programs for young people with IBD, and its Students with IBD guide helps families and schools plan support, such as a Student Health Support Plan and toilet access during school hours.

Family and carers. If you’re supporting someone with IBD, see help for family and carers, including support for carers themselves.