Everything you need to fit out a new practice in Australia

Opening or refurbishing a clinic is exciting—and a little overwhelming. From PPE and infection-control to diagnostics and furniture, there are dozens of decisions that affect day-one readiness and ongoing costs. This guide walks you through the essentials room-by-room, with practical ordering tips and quick links so you can stock confidently and stay on budget.

1) Reception & patient entry

Start with first impressions and infection-prevention at the door. A simple respiratory station with masks, alcohol hand rub and tissues encourages good etiquette before patients reach the desk. Keep a contactless thermometer on hand for screening, and make sure signage is clear and friendly. For accessibility, consider a low-clutter counter, a pen-and-clipboard “clean pot / used pot” system, and a small pedal bin nearby.

Shop: Face Masks  |  Hand Hygiene  |  Thermometers

2) Treatment rooms

Aim for durable, wipe-clean furniture and dependable diagnostics. An adjustable examination couch, a bright exam light and a rolling instrument trolley form the core. Add a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, tympanic or infrared thermometer, clinical scales, a quality stethoscope and a combined otoscope/ophthalmoscope set. Place sharps containers and clinical-waste bins where staff naturally stand so disposal is second nature.

Shop: Medical Equipment  |  Hospital Furniture  |  Sharps Disposal

3) Infection control & PPE

Set standard products across the whole practice so training is simple and reordering is predictable. Most clinics choose powder-free nitrile gloves in all sizes, P2/N95 respirators for higher-risk encounters, and Level 2–3 surgical masks for general use. Stock hospital-grade disinfectant wipes and surface sprays with clear contact times, and keep hand rub at every door and bay. Colour-coded waste bags and a visible cleaning rota help the team stay consistent.

Shop: Gloves  |  Respirators & Surgical Masks  |  Disinfectants & Wipes

4) Wound care & consumables

Even if you’re not a wound-care clinic, you’ll use dressings daily. Build a compact range: non-adherent pads, island dressings, foam dressings, adhesive tapes, conforming and elastic bandages, saline ampules for irrigation, skin-prep swabs and sterile gauze. Keep sizes consistent across rooms so you can buy in bulk without creating odd leftovers.

Shop: Wound Care  |  Disposables & Consumables

5) Point-of-care diagnostics & testing

Rapid results speed up decisions. Most new practices carry influenza A/B or combo Flu+COVID rapid tests during winter, urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests and a glucose meter with strips and lancets. If you do travel or employment checks, add breathalysers and drug test kits. Store within the recommended temperature range and diarise monthly expiry checks.

Shop: Rapid Tests  |  Blood Glucose Monitoring  |  Urinalysis & Pregnancy

6) Emergency & first aid readiness

A compact emergency corner saves time in rare but critical moments. Consider an AED, oxygen kit (if in scope), resuscitation masks, burn gel, eye-wash and a stocked first-aid kit. Check shelf lives when you schedule your monthly room walk-through.

Shop: First Aid  |  Emergency Equipment

7) Storage, workflows & documentation

Good storage reduces waste. Use labelled bins or drawers for each supply family, keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) in a clearly marked folder and post cleaning schedules where they’re used. A label printer, barcode scanner and clear shelf min/max levels will make reordering quick and accurate.

8) Your first ordering plan (simple par-level method)

Begin with a conservative two-week “par” so cash isn’t tied up in cupboards. For each item, estimate average daily use, multiply by 14 for your par level, and reorder when you hit half that number. As patterns emerge, you can extend high-confidence lines to a four-week cycle and keep long-dated items like gloves and dressings in slightly larger quantities. For example, if your team uses 180 Level-2 masks a day, set a par of 2,520 and a reorder point of 1,260. Apply the same logic to respirators, gloves, wipes, gowns and your most-used dressings.

Frequently asked questions

Which glove type should we choose for general practice?

Powder-free nitrile is the most versatile choice for comfort, durability and allergy avoidance. Stock a full size run so staff can switch sizes for a better fit.

Do we need respirators as well as surgical masks?

Keep both. Surgical masks cover routine interactions and patient use; P2/N95 respirators are useful for higher-risk encounters or when prolonged close contact is expected.

How do we avoid over-ordering before opening?

Start with a two-week par across core items, review weekly usage in month one and adjust. Standardise brands and sizes to simplify reordering and reduce dead stock.

Where should sharps containers go?

Mount or place them at the point of use—near procedure zones and phlebotomy chairs—so disposal is immediate and safe.

Ready to build your practice kit?

Biofast can help you map this checklist to your exact services and floor plan. Explore the categories above or ask us to assemble a custom start-up bundle with bulk pricing.

Please call (03) 8905 4449 or email sales@biofast.com.au — our team can give you a quote the same day!