Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) is a not-for-profit organisation and the peak consumer body representing Australians living Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, chronic conditions referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Common symptoms of IBD include diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal pain, bloody stools, and weight loss. These symptoms can cause distress and embarrassment, with the diagnosis of a “bowel disease” often accompanied by feelings of shame and stigmatisation. To support young people and minimise the IBD’s impact on their wellbeing CCA designed and ran programs such as YEP! (face-to-face).

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns had thwart CCA’s ability to deliver face-to-face support programs. Consequently, CCA decided to redevelop in person service into an online version. CCA is committed to the development of support services that are flexible and sustainable, therefore the development of the new initiative was proceeded by a two-stage codesign process with the members of the target audience – young people 12-18 years.

The initial stage of the codesign took place in 2020 with a group of 8 individuals (an average age of 16 years, a mix of rural, regional, and metropolitan residents). The first finding from the co-design workshops was that the CCA’s current online services are not accessible to teenagers with IBD and are perceived as being “for adults”. By the end of 2021, CCA was awarded the auDA Foundation grant to implement YEP! Online. CCA decided to conduct codesign interviews with the target audience representatives (5 individuals). This round eventuated in the second finding – the language and activities of the proposed program needed to be reconsidered. CCA hired a psychologist and ABC broadcaster Brianna Peterson to develop a teenager-focused approach. The third finding was the “look” (the design) of the proposed online program and its integration with social media platforms.