Kit list by trade
Uniforms and PPE for healthcare
What do Australian healthcare workers wear?
Most Australian healthcare teams order scrub tops and pants, lab coats for clinical and laboratory areas, caps where hair covering is required, single use gloves, and respirators or masks selected against the task. Comfort, laundering and fit decide as much as anything, because these garments are worn every shift.
Key takeaways
- Scrubs are chosen on fabric weight, stretch, pocket layout and how they survive frequent hot laundering.
- A respirator sold in Australia names AS/NZS 1716 and carries a filter marking such as P2, and a tight fitting device only works with a seal.
- Footwear for long shifts is about cushioning, support and slip resistance, and some listings state a slip code.
- This hub does not cover clinical infection control policy. Follow your facility policy and the guidance issued by your health service.
What should you look for in scrubs?
Fabric weight and stretch decide comfort across a twelve hour shift, and pocket layout decides whether the garment actually works. Look at the fabric composition, whether the range offers both a mens and a womens fit, and whether the colour range covers the department coding your facility uses.
Poly cotton and poly viscose blends dominate Australian scrub ranges because they hold colour through frequent hot washing.
V neck tops are the most common cut in this range. Compare fabric, pocket count and size range before ordering for a whole team, because the pocket layout is what staff notice on shift.
When do you need a lab coat or a scrub cap?
Lab coats suit laboratory and clinical areas where a barrier layer over normal clothing is wanted, and they are usually specified by the facility. Scrub caps are used where hair covering is required by procedure. Both are chosen on fabric, closure and laundering as much as anything.
Where a facility specifies single use rather than reusable, that decision comes from the facility policy, not from a product page.
What PPE do healthcare teams order alongside uniforms?
Single use gloves for routine care, respirators where airborne precautions apply, and eye protection for splash risk. Respirator listings in Australia name AS/NZS 1716 with a filter marking such as P2, and a tight fitting respirator needs fit testing before it can be relied on.
Surgical masks and respirators are different products with different purposes. Read what the listing states rather than treating them as interchangeable.
Alcohol and isopropyl wipes appear in this range for surface cleaning. Follow your facility cleaning procedure for what is used where.
What footwear suits a long hospital shift?
Cushioning, arch support and a sole that grips on hard smooth floors matter more than a safety toe in most clinical areas. Some listings state a slip resistance code. Compression or comfort socks appear in this range for the same reason, which is time on feet.
Where an area does require protective footwear, such as a plant room or a loading dock, the listing needs to name AS/NZS 2210.3.
Who sets the rules for healthcare workwear in New South Wales?
Uniform and PPE requirements in New South Wales health settings come from the health service or facility policy, alongside the general work health and safety duties administered by SafeWork NSW. Buying decisions follow that policy, and this hub compares products rather than interpreting it.
In New South Wales the work health and safety regulator is SafeWork NSW, and the rules are the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW). Other states and territories have their own regulator and their own regulation.
Where to start
Guides for this trade
- Biz Care unisex Pulse V-neck scrub top
- Biz Care Pulse women's V-neck scrub top
- Biz Care Avery men's V-neck scrub top
- Biz Care men's Avery straight leg scrub pant
- NNT Carl V neck scrub top
- NNT Chang V neck scrub top
- Biz Collection labcoat, adult classic
- Biz Care printed unisex scrub cap, pink one size
- Force360 P2 disposable respirator, box of 20
- Biz Care Happy Feet unisex comfort socks
Frequently asked questions
What fabric are healthcare scrubs made from?
Most Australian scrub ranges use a poly cotton or poly viscose blend, often with elastane for stretch, because those blends hold colour and shape through frequent hot laundering. Check the composition and the weight on the listing, because a heavier blend wears hotter across a long shift.
Is a P2 respirator the same as a surgical mask?
No. A respirator named under AS/NZS 1716 with a P2 filter marking is designed to filter particles and to seal against the face. A surgical mask is a barrier product with a different purpose. Which one applies to a task comes from your facility policy.
Do scrub tops come in separate mens and womens fits?
Several ranges in these guides offer a unisex cut plus separate mens and womens fits, and the size range differs between them. Each guide states the fit and the size range the listing gives, so check both before ordering for a team.
Can healthcare staff wear ordinary sports shoes?
In most clinical areas footwear is set by the facility policy, which usually calls for a closed, non slip shoe. Where an area requires protective footwear, the listing needs to name AS/NZS 2210.3. Comfort and slip resistance are the practical decision for everywhere else.