Australia has more than 300,000 people employed in residential aged care services, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The 2024 Aged Care Worker Survey, conducted by the Australian Government Department of Health, heard from over 21,000 workers -- and the physical demands of the role are among the most significant challenges they face.
Aged care workers are constantly on their feet: showering residents, assisting with transfers, walking between rooms, and responding to call bells. The combination of prolonged standing, wet floor exposure, and repetitive movement makes footwear one of the most critical pieces of work equipment an aged care worker owns.
What Makes a Work Shoe Right for Aged Care?
1. Waterproof or Fluid-Resistant Material
Showering residents creates wet surfaces. Spills happen constantly. Shoes need to either be fully waterproof or dry quickly after exposure. EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) clogs like Workcloud Essentials are 100% fluid resistant and wipe clean in seconds, including with bleach for clinical sanitisation between patients.
2. Anti-Slip Sole
Aged care facilities contain the highest concentration of vulnerable people in any workplace. A carer slipping on a wet bathroom floor is a risk not just to themselves but to the resident they are assisting. Australian Standard AS 2210.3:2019 is the benchmark for slip resistance -- look for shoes certified to this standard.
3. Easy to Clean
Infection control is a legal obligation in Australian aged care under the Aged Care Act. Shoes that cannot be wiped down or sanitised are a genuine clinical risk. Leather and fabric-based shoes retain bacteria; seamless EVA clogs are far easier to decontaminate.
4. Cushioning for Long Shifts
The 2024 Aged Care Worker Survey found that most aged care workers are employed on a permanent part-time basis, averaging 26.4 paid hours per week. But industry observers note that many work additional hours due to chronic understaffing. A thick-soled clog with meaningful cushioning -- at least 2.5cm of compression material -- is essential for shifts beyond 8 hours.
5. Easy Slip-On Design
Aged care workers are constantly moving between tasks, including some that require bending down to assist residents. Lace-up shoes become a hazard in this context. A slip-on clog allows workers to move quickly and remove their footwear efficiently when entering residential rooms that follow infection control protocols.
The Workcloud Essentials Advantage
Workcloud Essentials were specifically designed with the aged care and healthcare worker in mind. The 3cm cloud sole absorbs impact on hard facility floors, the 100% waterproof EVA shell wipes clean instantly, and the roomy toe box accommodates natural foot swelling during long shifts. They are available from $59.99 AUD with free tracked shipping across Australia.