What Scrubs Do Nursing Students Need for Clinical Placement in Australia?

By the team at Infectious Clothing Company — Australia’s medical scrubs specialists since 2001.

Last updated: February 2026. Placement requirements change — always confirm with your university before ordering.

Starting clinical placement is one of the most exciting milestones in a nursing degree — and one of the most stressful to prepare for. Between organising immunisation records, police checks and CPR certificates, figuring out exactly what scrubs you need can feel like an afterthought. Then placement day arrives and you realise everyone else seems to know something you don’t.

This guide answers the questions we hear every week from student nurses across Australia: what colour, what brand, how many sets, does it need a logo, and where do I buy them? We’ve covered the major universities and broken it down so you can confirm what applies to you and order with confidence.

Why Your Scrubs Matter on Placement

Your clinical placement uniform isn’t just clothing — it’s part of your professional identity and a patient safety requirement. Colour-coded scrubs help patients and ward staff immediately identify who you are and what role you’re playing. Most hospitals and health services expect students to arrive in clearly identifiable, freshly laundered scrubs from day one.

Most universities are explicit: if you arrive without the correct uniform, you will be sent home. That means a lost placement day, a potential shortfall in your required hours, and unnecessary stress. Getting your scrubs sorted early — ideally two to four weeks before your first block — is one of the simplest ways to start placement on the right foot.

For context on how colour-coding works across Australian hospitals, our guide to scrub colours in Australian healthcare explains the role-based system used in public health settings.

The Rules That Apply to Almost Every University

Before the university-by-university breakdown, these requirements apply almost universally across Australian nursing programs:

• Freshly laundered every single day. This is an infection control requirement, not a suggestion. Wearing the same unwashed scrubs to two consecutive shifts is a compliance breach at most facilities.
• Fully enclosed, non-slip black or navy shoes. No open-toed footwear, no trainers, no sneakers unless specifically approved by your clinical facility.
• No jewellery below the elbow in clinical areas. Rings, bracelets and watches are generally prohibited for infection control.
• Short or rolled-up sleeves. “Bare below the elbow” is standard practice in most Australian clinical environments.
• Short, unpainted nails. Gel nails, acrylics and nail polish are not permitted on most wards.
• Hair tied back. Hair that touches the collar must be secured.
• Name badge visible at all times. Your university-issued ID must be clearly visible throughout every shift.

Our guide to the best nursing scrubs in Australia also covers what to look for in footwear and accessories for long shifts.

How Many Sets of Scrubs Do You Actually Need?

The standard recommendation from Australian universities is a minimum of two complete sets (two tops, two bottoms). For longer block placements of three weeks or more, three to four sets is far more practical — allowing for washing, drying time and unexpected quick-turnaround shifts.

Nursing students complete 800–840 clinical hours to meet AHPRA registration requirements across a three-to-four-year degree. Investing in durable scrubs now pays off across your entire program, not just your first block. Our article on affordable medical scrubs without compromising quality explains how to think about cost-per-wear.

University-by-University Scrub Requirements

The table below reflects our current understanding based on published placement guides and direct supply relationships. Always confirm with your placement coordinator before purchasing — requirements change between academic years.

Which Scrub Brand Should Nursing Students Buy?

Unless your university specifies a brand, you have flexibility — but not every cheap scrub holds up through 12-hour shifts and daily clinical washing. Here is how the three main brands we stock compare for student use.

Dickies EDS Signature — Best for Durability and Value

Dickies is the most widely used student placement brand across Australian universities. The EDS Signature range survives daily hot washing without pilling, fading or losing shape. Double-needle stitching at stress points means seams hold up through bend-and-lift clinical work, and the colour consistency makes reordering for group cohorts straightforward.

• Available in teal, navy, ceil blue, black and a full clinical colour range
• Sizing XXS–5XL
• Good pocket placement for ward rounds (pens, notebook, phone)
• Student-friendly price point

Browse the Dickies scrubs collection at Infectious.

Cherokee Workwear Professionals — Best for Comfort on Long Shifts

If comfort over a full 8–12 hour shift is your priority, Cherokee Workwear Professionals offers soft 2-way stretch fabrics that feel noticeably better after hour six. It’s a small step up in price from Dickies EDS entry-level, but the comfort return is real. Cherokee also offers the broadest size range (XXS–5XL) and consistently gets high marks from nursing students for fit — particularly for female builds.

• 2-way stretch, soft against skin all day
• Wide colour range: navy, teal, black, royal blue and more
• V-neck and mock-wrap top options
• Excellent washability and colourfastness

Browse the Cherokee scrubs collection at Infectious. See our comparison of Cherokee Workwear Professionals vs Cherokee Infinity if you’re weighing up collections.

Wink W123 — Best for Queensland Climates and All-Day Comfort

Queensland nursing students in particular love the Wink W123 range for its silky-soft, moisture-wicking microfibre that stays fresh in hot and humid clinical environments. The 4-way stretch is excellent for high-movement clinical work. It is a premium price point but often becomes the brand students graduate into once they’re earning a nursing income — if you can stretch the budget, one set for your longer placement blocks is worth it.

Browse the Wink scrubs collection at Infectious. For a deeper look at how fabrics perform in Australian clinical environments, read our complete scrub fabric guide for 2026.

Scrub Colours by Role and University: Quick Reference

Once you graduate and begin working as an RN, your colour requirements will be set by your employer or health service. Our guide to scrub colour codes in Australian healthcare covers what each colour means across different roles and health districts.

Do Student Scrubs Need a Logo or Embroidery?

Some universities require it, some recommend it and some don’t mention it at all. Here is the practical breakdown:

• If your university specifies logo embroidery (UQ, USC, ANU, UOW, UniSQ — check your placement guide) you must have it before placement day. Arriving without the logo at these institutions can result in being turned away.
• If your university doesn’t specify, embroidery is still worth considering. Your name and “Student Nurse” on the left chest immediately helps ward staff, patients and clinical supervisors identify you. It’s a professional habit worth building early.
• For QLD Health or NSW Health facilities, student nurses are typically identified via their university-issued badge — but confirm with your placement coordinator if additional identification is required by the specific facility.

Infectious Clothing Co. provides in-house embroidery with a 5–7 business day turnaround. We have many Australian university logos on file and can add your name and title. Learn more at our customise your scrubs page. For cohort or group orders, see our business orders page or read our group embroidery and hospital logo guide.

Sunshine Coast Nursing Students: Order Local

If you’re studying at the University of the Sunshine Coast, we are your official uniform supplier. Infectious Clothing Co. has supplied USC nursing students since 2017. USC students wear teal scrub tops with USC embroidery on the left chest; black scrub pants are optional but widely chosen. We carry your correct colours in stock year-round, offer in-person fittings at our Kunda Park showroom, and process all embroidery in-house.

Our showroom at 3/15 Page Street, Kunda Park QLD 4556 is open Monday–Friday 8am–4pm — a 10-minute drive from the USC Sippy Downs campus. If you want to try before you buy, particularly important if you’re between sizes, this is your easiest option.

Read more about our local service and the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service colour codes at our Sunshine Coast scrubs page.

Buying Tips for Student Nurses on a Budget

1. Buy two sets of the same style to start. Two identical tops and two identical bottoms means you can swap sets without worrying about colour or style mismatches. Add a third set for blocks over three weeks.
2. Check your student nursing association for a secondhand exchange. Some associations run buy-swap-sell groups where graduating students pass on compliant scrubs at a discount.
3. Prioritise correct colour over brand. If your university specifies teal, buy teal. A slightly different shade from a cheaper retailer may not be compliant — ward staff will notice.
4. Wash inside-out in cold water. This preserves colour for longer. See our 2025 scrubs buying guide for more fabric care tips.
5. Get sizing right before ordering online. Dickies tends to run slightly larger; Cherokee runs more true to size. If you’re between sizes, our team is happy to advise. If your scrubs aren’t fitting right once they arrive, read our scrub fit troubleshooting guide.
6. Order at least three weeks before your first placement day. Embroidery adds 5–7 business days. In peak intake weeks (February and July) embroidery queues extend. Don’t leave it to the week before.

If you need plus-size options, our plus size scrubs guide covers all options up to 5XL across Dickies, Cherokee and Wink. For expectant student nurses, see our maternity scrubs collection.

Shop Student Nurse Scrubs

Ready to order? Browse our dedicated nursing and medical student scrubs collection. All orders over $250 qualify for free standard shipping to anywhere in Australia. Express options are available for urgent placement orders.

Not sure what you need? Call 1300 661 475 or visit our Kunda Park showroom. We’ve been helping nursing students get placement-ready for more than 20 years.

Frequently Asked Questions