For most aged care, NDIS disability support and home care teams, a uniform that works is a polo or knit top with some stretch, pants that let you bend and kneel without the waistband rolling, and a light vest for the walk from the car to a client's door. Tunics and scrub tops suit teams that prefer a more clinical look. Here are the styles we list for each piece, what their listings say, and what they leave out.
Polo, knit top or tunic?
A polo looks less clinical in someone's lounge room or a facility dining room and still reads as a uniform. Settle which look your organisation wants, then compare fabric and sizes:
| Style | Fabric, as listed | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| City Collection CA4T polo | Recycled polyester, 5% spandex, 4-way stretch | Unisex, XXS to 5XL |
| Aussie Pacific Paterson polos | 180gm, 80% polyester, 20% cotton | Women's 6 to 26; men's S to 3XL and 5XL |
| City Collection 2230 top | 150gm polyester knit | XXS to 5X |
| City Collection 2280 tunic | Recycled polyester, 5% spandex, 4-way stretch | 6 to 30 |
- The City Collection Unisex Healthcare Polo CA4T is listed as "designed for clinical and care settings", with a three button tab front, side splits and a zipped chest pocket. That pocket keeps a phone or a client's key in place when you lean over a bed. It comes in Black, Charcoal, Navy and Royal. It's a unisex cut only, so have your smaller staff try one on.
- The Aussie Pacific Paterson Womens Polo 2305 and Mens 1305 are a cotton back pique, which the listing says keeps "cotton sitting next to your skin". Both list the same 18 two-tone colourways. Neither mentions stretch, the men's sizes skip 4XL, and the men's comes with a loose pocket. Our men's vs women's polo fits guide explains what else differs within a pair.
- The City Collection City Health Active Top 2230 is a lightweight knit with a roll collar, sleeve splits, double pockets and a shaped hem, listed as "Quick drying" and semi-fitted. Its "Best for" line names aged care, disability support and community nursing. It comes in Lilac, Navy and Royal. The listing mentions UV protection but gives no UPF rating, so don't count on it for sun protection on outings.
- The City Collection 4-Way Stretch Healthcare Tunic 2280 has an "Air flow action back", side splits, double pockets and contrast trim on the neckline and pocket, in Black, Charcoal, Navy, Royal and Teal. It's semi-fitted, and size 4 is listed in Navy only.
If your team prefers a true scrub top, the City Collection CA2T women's scrub top has five pockets and comes in Navy or Royal, XXS to 3X. Our scrubs for clinics guide compares scrub fabrics and fits in detail, and there's more to browse in our health and beauty collection.
Pants that bend, kneel and climb stairs
Care work means crouching, kneeling and getting in and out of the car all day, so stretch and a waistband that stays put earn their place.
- The City Collection So Ezy Women's Pants CA3P are a straight leg in 4-way stretch fabric with a "Comfort knit anti-roll waistband", angled front pockets and inner utility pockets. They come in Navy or Black, XXS to 3X. They're a women's style and stop at 3X.
- The City Collection City Active Pocket Jogger CA7P has ten pockets, two of them zipped inside, and a "Yoga inspired waistband and cuff" with a drawstring. Its "Best for" line names aged care and disability support workers. Navy or Black, XXS to 3X. The listing doesn't say whether it's cut for men, women or both, so have a few people try one on before ordering for a mixed team.
Above L, these City Collection pants go 1X, 2X and 3X rather than XL to 3XL, so collect each person's size for each style. Our team sizing guide explains how.
A layer for home visits
Home care staff are in and out of the car between clients in all weather, and residential staff move between heated rooms and cold courtyards. A vest keeps your core warm and leaves your arms free. The Aussie Pacific Olympus Womens Vest 2515 and Mens Vest 1515 are a 320gm three-layer soft shell with a bonded fleece inner, a "Light water repellent and wind resistant finish", two side zip pockets and a chest zip pocket.
Check the size and colour exceptions. The women's comes in Black, Navy, Royal and Slate in sizes 8 to 22, with 24 and 26 in Navy and Black only. The men's runs S to 3XL and 5XL in all four colours, with 6XL to 8XL in Navy and Black only. The listing describes the finish as light water repellent, so keep a rain jacket in the car for proper downpours. Our winter layering guide covers fleece and hoodies too.
Telling roles apart: colour and names
Navy and Royal are in the colour lists of the CA4T polo, the 2230 top, the 2280 tunic and the CA2T scrub top, and the CA3P pants and CA7P jogger both come in Navy. So you could put care staff in navy and team leaders in royal across different styles and still look like one team. The Paterson's 18 two-tones give you more room if you have several roles.
A first name helps residents, clients and families put a name to a face. Our ordering guide lists the right chest as the place for a staff name or a qualification. Which colour means which role is your organisation's decision, so check your own policies before you choose.
Washing: what the listings actually say
The six City Collection listings above say "Wash & wear, easy care", and the 2230 adds "Quick drying". The Paterson and Olympus listings give the fabric but no care line. None of these listings gives a wash temperature or drying instructions, so follow the care label on each garment.
Every garment above can carry your logo. Our embroidery or printing guide explains how to choose a method for each fabric.
When you know who needs what, send us the styles, colours, sizes and any names through our custom workwear enquiry form, and we'll come back with a quote.
