International Women's Day - Meet our Founder Carolyn Ryan

Two decades ago, Newcastle woman Carolyn Ryan embarked on a journey with a passion to transform the landscape of healthcare apparel, giving life to Hunter Scrubs. From humble beginnings in her laundry, the dream has now grown to a thriving business with a global presence that has changed the healthcare industry.

From employing predominantly working mothers including Syrian refugees, to engaging in collaborations with female artists such as Brittany Paulson, the scrubs business operating out of Redhead has a serious impact that is incredibly far reaching.

By collaborating with an Anaesthetist in 2017, Ms Ryan’s business pioneered scrub caps that changed a major element of the operating theatre. The caps featured the names and roles of operating staff. This initiative aims to reduce errors in the operating theatre by enhancing staff identification.

The mother of three’s inspiration for starting Hunter Scrubs stemmed from a personal experience. Her husband, an ICU nurse, found the scrubs provided in Australian hospital departments lacking in quality compared to those he had worn abroad. Fuelled by the belief that there had to be a better way, Ms Ryan made a bold career shift from speech pathology to retail, launching Hunter Scrubs.

Fast forward to the present, Hunter Scrubs has evolved into a one-stop destination for healthcare professionals, offering a diverse range of scrub brands. Hunter Scrubs also manufactures onsite inn Redhead, creating custom attire, including scrub tops, scrub caps, and embroidery.

Hunter Scrubs embraces a socially responsible approach, currently employing 15 people, many of whom are working mothers. This unique approach to employment fosters a flexible working environment, allowing mothers to balance work and family life—a rarity in today's professional landscape.

For a unique point of difference to the cluttered scrubs retail environment, Hunter Scrubs engages in meaningful collaborations with female artists to create patterned scrub tops. This includes a successful partnerships with Brittany Paulson and upcoming partnerships with local female powerhouse artists launching in May. Watch this space.

Hunter Scrubs actively contributes to education initiatives, providing work experience opportunities for students, including those with disabilities. The company has also trained female Syrian refugees in sewing, empowering them with the skills and means to work from home.

Hunter Scrubs extends its impact beyond borders, actively participating in philanthropic endeavours. Ms Ryan and her team have sponsored doctors and nurses in third-world countries, providing them with essential scrubs. Personal involvement in rural Vietnam, offering scrubs and medical equipment to village hospitals, reflects their commitment to making a difference in healthcare settings worldwide.

Hunter Scrubs looks to a bright future and thanks the healthcare industry within the local area for their ongoing support.