About CF


Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life threatening genetic condition in Australia - and there is no cure.  CF is a degenerative condition that affects many of the body’s systems, including the lungs and digestion.  Children diagnosed with CF live through daily physiotherapy and medications, among other treatments, just to survive.

Improvements in treatment over the last 50 years mean that now most children will live to an average age of 38.  This is fantastic progress, but has also brought about new health challenges such as CF related diabetes and osteoporosis.

Children and adults with CF and their families also face considerable financial, practical and emotional challenges living with a chronic illness.  Read more...

Cystic Fibrosis Queensland

At Cystic Fibrosis Queensland our philosophy is a simple promise – “For the Love of Life”.  Faced with a life-threatening chronic illness, children and adults with CF and their families fight daily for life against many challenges.  We believe every person diagnosed with CF and their families deserve the best possible quality of life, and we are committed to providing the support to make that possible.

This includes providing emotional support to children, adults and their families through counselling, sibling camps, and respite programs; practical support through equipment, hospital transfers, physiotherapy, accommodation, and special support for children during hospital stays; advocacy and education programs; and research.

Last year CFQ provided services to over 700 children and adults living with cystic fibrosis and their families, an increase of 27% in just 4 years.  Only 6% of our funding comes from government, so the financial support of our sponsors, donors, and members is vital to continue our work.

When you are living with CF, every day matters.  For the Love of Life, means working together with our supporters to make each of those days the very best it can be.  Read more about our services...

About CF Continued

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life threatening condition affecting Queenslanders. 

CF is a degenerative disease which affects many of the body’s systems including:

• The Respiratory System

• The Digestive System

• The Sweat Glands

• The Reproductive System

• The Liver

• The Bones

Treatment approaches to cystic fibrosis are individual, however, common treatments include:

• Intensive daily physiotherapy to clear the lungs

• Enzyme replacement tablets with every meal to help aid digestion

• Using air pressure devices to help clear the lungs

• Regular oral and/or intravenous antibiotic therapy to treat infections

• Daily nebulised medications to assist in opening the airways

• Daily salt and vitamin supplements

• High calorie diet

• Regular exercise

One in every 25 people, often unknowingly, carry the cystic fibrosis gene.  Every four days a child is born with cystic fibrosis. For a child to be born with cystic fibrosis both parents must carry the CF gene.  A person with CF must have two CF genes – one from each parent. When both parents are a carrier of the CF gene, one of the following outcomes will occur with every pregnancy:

• A one-in-four chance that the child will have CF

• A two-in-four chance that the child will not have CF – but will carry the CF gene

• There is a one-in-four chance that each baby will NOT have CF and NOT be a CF carrier

Research has improved treatments for cystic fibrosis which has increased the life expectancy of people with CF to an average of 40 years.  This increased life expectancy has however brought about new complications such as CF related diabetes and osteoporosis.

There are around 3,000 people living with diabetes in Australia, about 41% of whom are adults.



More about Cystic Fibrosis Queensland

Cystic Fibrosis Queensland (CFQ) is a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides counseling and support services to over 700 Queenslanders affected by CF and their families.   CFQ works closely with medical and allied health professionals and hospitals to ensure the highest standards of support and service are provided to clients.

Services provided by CFQ include:

• Cottage accommodation facility

• Counselling and emotional support for children, adults and their families

• Free CF-related respiratory equipment and oxygen

• Sponsorship of education in CF care for health professionals

• Outreach programs to regional areas

• Sibling camps, Mothers Respite Weekends and Dads’ Days Out

• Respite physiotherapy

• Funding for paediatric allied health staff to attend outreach clinics in regional areas

• Education and financial support for newly diagnosed families

• Referral, advocacy and lobbying

• Therapeutic massage services for adult patients in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville and Cairns hospitals

• Boredom Buster bags for children in hospital

• Physical activities subsidies

• Transfers to hospital from the airport or train

• Conducting research into cystic fibrosis