Western Sydney University launches Australia’s first branded hijab

Western Sydney University has launched Australia’s first branded hijab in a bid to reduce dropout rates among Muslim nursing and midwifery students.

The program's co-creators, Western Sydney University director of clinical Sue Willis and lecturer and deputy director clinical education midwifery Dr Rakime Elmir, with third year nursing student Saja Chaabou are pictured at the university’s nursing lab. Picture: Robert Pozo

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An increase in dropout rates among Muslim nursing and midwifery students at Western Sydney University has led to the launch of Australia’s first branded hijab for clinical practice.

Red in colour and bearing the university’s logo, the hijab is now available for students to purchase as part of uniform requirements for clinical placement.

It is one element of a suite of resources developed by School of Nursing and Midwifery Director of Clinical Sue Willis and lecturer and Deputy Director Clinical Education Midwifery, Dr Rakime Elmir.

The program aims to support Muslim students and demystify any confusion about how their Islamic beliefs fit within NSW Health regulations.

Pictured at the university’s nursing lab: The program’s co-creators and student Saja Chaabou, who has benefited from the program. Picture: Robert Pozo

Along with the hijab, students and educators can now access guidelines and digital assets addressing issues such as clinical uniform requirements, care for different genders, bearing forearms to undertake aseptic hand wash and taking time from clinical practice for prayer.

“The students’ main concerns, as well as the facilitators and academics’, were around some broad areas in relation to uniform compliance,” Dr Elmir said.

“Some of the students preferred to wear skirts as opposed to pants. There were also concerns about students not willing to roll up their sleeves and that was an important issue for us to address because of infection control.”

Dr Elmir said a working party involving religious community leaders was consulted for the program.

“According to NSW policies, students in the presence of patients or when they’re in direct patient contact, they’re to roll up their sleeves but then when they’re in the corridors or when they’ve just entered the facility they can roll their sleeves back down. There’s no restrictions around that,” she said.

Ms Saja Chaabou said the resources helped her overcome her initial concerns. Picture: Robert Pozo

Dr Elmir said while the hijab was permitted in a clinical setting, there were often inconsistencies in colours worn by students.

“The introduction of the … (branded) hijab is a real representation of social cohesion, inclusivity and also consistency in terms of what to wear for students.”

Ms Willis said the resources were developed with the aim of providing an inclusive environment for students, with Western Sydney University now setting an example for other institutions.

“There are healthcare facilities that are considering whether or not they need to address some sort of uniform piece and they can choose to or not. Uniforms exist everywhere, they define who we are. They give us a sense of belonging and this piece of uniform is just one part of that.”

For third-year nursing student Saja Chaabou, it has made all the difference.

“I wasn’t sure what were my limits within my religious practices and … attending a NSW Health facility and trying to also abide by their regulations, so that was a little bit of a setback at the beginning,” she said.

She was encouraged to continue her studies after receiving support and clarification on issues such as caring for a different gender.

“While we’re caring for this patient, we’re caring for them and that’s our intentions and that’s purely what it’s about,” Ms Chaabou said.

“There’s no other meaning behind why I’m caring for this opposite gender except the fact that we’re making this person better or purely just caring for them while they’re there.”