Indigenous Scrub Tops for Nurses & Doctors: Designed by Aboriginal Artists
An Indigenous print scrub top is more than a uniform. Each design on our range starts with an artwork by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist, and many tell a story about Country, family and healing. For nurses, doctors and allied health workers, wearing one is a way to show respect for First Nations culture at work, and it often starts a conversation with patients.
Meet the artists behind our Indigenous scrub tops
Bush Tucker Scrub Top by Glenda Nangala Briscoe
Glenda Nangala Briscoe was born in Alice Springs in 1971 and began painting in 2015. Her Bush Tucker design uses colour and pattern to represent her mother's and grandmother's Country, combined with her own modern style. The NNT Bush Tucker top is a unisex V-neck with pockets and side splits at the hem, and the same artwork is available on matching polos and a blouse for non-clinical staff.
Water Dreaming Scrub Top by Lynette Nangala Singleton
This limited-edition print is designed by Lynette Nangala Singleton and depicts Puyurru, a site connected to Water Dreaming. The top is a unisex style in 100% polyester with a durable digital print, two front hip pockets, a left chest pocket and side splits.
Warlu Scrub Top by Theo (Faye) Nangala Hudson
The Warlu top features a limited-edition artwork by Aboriginal artist Theo (Faye) Nangala Hudson. It has a hard-wearing finish, a V neckline, pockets and side splits at the hem.
Pilbara Scrub Top by Tyrown Waigana
The Softies Pilbara top was created in Western Australia by artist and designer Tyrown Waigana, whose heritage traces to the Wandandi Noongar people of south-west Western Australia and the Ait Koedal people of Saibai Island in the Torres Strait. The artwork is about health, community and holistic healing, with symbols for community, water, earth and plants: a healthy Country full of flowing water and flourishing plants, leading to healthy people. Because of how the fabric is cut, the print placement varies slightly from top to top. A matching Pilbara polo is also available.
Why healthcare workers choose Indigenous scrubs
- Respect and recognition. Many hospitals, clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services wear Indigenous prints to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land they work on.
- Culturally safe care. A familiar design can help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients feel more welcome, and it's a natural conversation starter.
- NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week. Indigenous scrubs are popular for these weeks, and many teams wear them all year round.
- Supporting artists. Every design on these tops comes from a named First Nations artist.
Practical on shift
These are working scrubs, not just statement pieces. Most of the range is in hard-wearing polyester that holds its colour wash after wash, with a V-neck, pockets and side splits for movement. Check each product page for the exact fabric, pockets and size chart.
Custom Indigenous scrubs for your organisation
Want a design for your own team? We make custom sublimated scrub tops for orders of 100 or more of the same design, with your logo and branding. Custom printed scrubs don't have to be Indigenous designs: we can sublimate almost any design onto polyester fabric in as many colours as you like. If you're commissioning an Indigenous design, work with a First Nations artist and agree how the artwork can be used.
Read more
Browse more designs in our guide to the best fun printed scrubs in Australia.