Columbia Aged Care

About Columbia Aged Care

Privately owned, with over 50-years experience in residential aged and dementia care Columbia Aged Care comprises 3 sites in NSW, Strathfield, Chatswood and Oberon employing 350 people.

Repositioning Strategy & Goals

Columbia Age Care group recognised the importance of being regarded as agile, adaptive, innovative and really understanding the changing requirements of the sector to be able to offer the best experience, care and support for the evolving and diverse needs of their residents.

Repositioning the Columbia brand commenced in 2021 encompassing all facets of the organisation – from branding, communications, technology, marketing, operations and internal systems with its staff being the integral core of this.

Recognising that people will always be the biggest asset in the Columbia family it was imperative that all Columbia staff across all departments were aligned, onboard and unified with the fresh and contemporary repositioning, and it’s innovative growth mindset.

The Importance of the Uniforms

“Uniforms were a key way to bring staff along the journey in transforming the organisation.

The role of uniforms was integral for both our aged care residents and for our staff.

Keeping it simple in aged care is imperative. By dressing each of our staff in a different colour based on their work category, our residents were able to easily associate the uniform colour with the type of worker.

Not only was it an excellent way to differentiate staff, it demonstrates Columbia’s commitment to doing everything possible to ensure best care and experience for our residents. Steadfast and committed to understanding aged care, we will implement it at every level of the organisation.”

Lucy O’Flaherty, CEO, Columbia Aged Care.

The Process of Working with Uniformity to Find the Perfect Solution 

Uniformity understood how important the new style uniforms were for both residents AND staff.

Staff were empowered to be the final decision makers with a “Majority Rules” consensus with selection criteria based around style, fabric, quality, comfort, colours, and durability.

It was important that staff were heard and an active part of the decision-making process. They were included in discussions, with the process involving Uniformity conducting comprehensive consultation with staff to understand their painpoints and their ultimate wishlist.

Quality was a super important factor in the decision-making process. Columbia staff work really hard & often for long shifts so the uniform needed to be highly-durable, withstand heavy wash n wear cycles, comfortable to wear and staff wanted to proudly represent the Columbia family.

Samples of 6 various style options were provided for staff to select from, and distributed across the 3 Columbia site locations so there was an opportunity for the 350 staff to trial outfits.

Fitting days were held at each of the 3 sites so staff could try on the uniforms, touch, feel the quality, see the colours and know their size.

The Final Results 

The new Uniformity designed and manufactured uniforms demonstrate to all stakeholders, and industry peers that Columbia understands aged care, is committed to an innovative and growth mind-set and is an inclusive, diverse, kind, supportive and respectful work environment.

Outstanding benefits

→ Columbia staff are able to bring in their old uniforms for the end of life / recycling program offered by Uniformity

→ Online Shop / Inventory Management. Staff seamlessly order uniforms when needed.

→ Uniformity are SEDEX Accredited. A big factor in meeting ESG reporting requirements.

→ Uniform colours are synonymous with

• Purple = Carers
• Blue = Nursing Staff
• Grey = Laundry and Cleaning
• Black = Kitchen Staff
• Admin / Corporate / Front of House – A few options. ( Uniforms not mandatory for this sector of support workers)