For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, information from a reputable source can be helpful, even life changing.

Conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can make it hard to work in a full or part-time capacity. From full-time private business owners or employees through to part-time employed, the physical and mental symptoms of IBD can create challenges in the workplace. It is important to know your obligations, your employers’ obligations and how to act to best support yourself.

Experience an interactive journey on how to build your own personal support team, manage stress and the physical aspects of IBD, make decisions around sharing your diagnosis, returning to work, and identifying suitable roles. Legislation surrounding employment, personal leave and assistance for IBD, along with connecting with others for medical, social and financial support, apps and links to further resources are also covered in the resource. CCA board members, including John Brennan and Dominique Tim So, reviewed the content from a legal and business perspective, while Associate Professors Simon Knowles and Antonina Mikocka-Walus provided expert psychologist review.

After completion of “IBD in the Workplace,” you will have a greater understanding of the suite of options to better support yourself in relation to work.

The objectives of this resource are to:

• • Increase knowledge around who to go to better manage IBD, via education regarding the function of each medical profession and stakeholder.
  • Increase confidence dealing with physical symptoms of IBD including fatigue and toileting challenges.
  • Increase confidence dealing with the emotional toll of IBD.
  • Increase knowledge on stress management.
  • Increase confidence around disclosure decision making.
  • Increase confidence when looking for work and returning to work.
  • Increase knowledge around rights in the workplace including disability. discrimination, role requirements, sick leave rights and how to make a complaint.
  • Increase knowledge of support networks including Centrelink, allied health plans, Workcover and toileting access at work.
  • Increase knowledge relating to successful integration and workplace adjustments.
  • Increase knowledge of support tools including allied health care plans, Workcover, Centrelink and contacts for support.
  • Increase awareness of evidence-based apps for stress management and productivity.

Current CCA members can access the resource as a part of their membership, on the GutSmart education platform. Non-members can access the resource for a small fee.

The resource is 45minutes of learning via a research, evidence-based resource, which includes videos, activities and reading. The resource includes printable content and  worksheets for those wanting to maximise learnings.

(Course accessible immediately upon enrolment and remains so for one year – price inclusive of GST)

The GutSmart Team would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their generous contributions to this course:

• Gemma Reeves (GutSmart Manager, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia)
• Sarah Thyssen (Head – Philanthropy, Development & Engagement, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia)
• Ian Stewart (Digital Manager, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia)
• Leanne Raven (CEO, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia)
• Simon Knowles (Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer & Clinical Psychologist, Swinburne University of Technology)
• Antonina Mikocka-Walus (Associate Professor, Head of School of Psychology, Deakin University)
• Chris Mangos (Digital Program Assistant, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia)
• Dominique Tim So (Non—Executive Director/Company Secretary, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia).
• John Brennan (Non—Executive Director/Company Secretary, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia)

Thank you to those who have shared their lived experience to support the development of the resource:

• Chad
• Lucy
• Natalie
• Matt