Every year on 15 October, communities around the world unite to celebrate Global Handwashing Day – a simple but powerful reminder that washing hands with soap remains one of the most effective ways to prevent illness and save lives. Established in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership, the annual campaign raises awareness and inspires creative, practical approaches to promoting hand hygiene at every level of society.
For Australia’s cleaning and facilities sector, Global Handwashing Day offers a timely cue to spotlight hygiene standards and engage workers, clients and building occupants in small but meaningful actions. From offices and schools to aged-care homes and hospitals, the act of washing hands connects directly to infection control, workforce safety and customer trust. It is a cornerstone of public health that also underscores the value of professional cleaning services.
In a country where seasonal outbreaks of gastroenteritis, influenza and respiratory viruses remain common, reinforcing basic hygiene practices is vital. For facility managers and cleaning professionals, 15 October is a pointed reminder to audit wash stations, check supplies, review training and renew visible messaging that encourages proper hand hygiene. Even simple actions like ensuring soap and paper towels are always available or posting short, evidence-based reminders near sinks can make a measurable difference.
This year’s campaign theme, set by the Global Handwashing Partnership, invites reflection on why clean hands still matter in a post-pandemic world. The focus highlights how easily habits fade once the immediate threat of a pandemic subsides, even though everyday pathogens continue to cause widespread illness and lost productivity. The message is universal yet acutely relevant to Australian workplaces that juggle compliance, cost pressures and health responsibilities in shared environments.
Turning awareness into action
For cleaning contractors and facility operators, the day presents an opportunity to engage and educate teams in creative ways. A hand-hygiene audit blitz can be run across multiple sites to assess station accessibility and signage. Short staff sessions or practical demonstrations using UV light to show invisible contamination can help reinforce the message that good hygiene protects everyone. Visible reminders for tenants or visitors, such as posters, stickers or even short digital campaigns, can also extend the conversation beyond the cleaning crew.
But the impact of Global Handwashing Day lies in what follows. One-off celebrations are useful for awareness, yet the true legacy comes from embedding consistent hygiene behaviour across facilities year-round. Tracking soap usage or hand-sanitiser refills, monitoring compliance, and maintaining communication about hand hygiene throughout the year builds confidence among clients and the wider community.
To get involved, visit globalhandwashing.org for downloadable campaign materials, activity ideas and messaging resources tailored for workplaces, schools and facilities. Encourage your teams and clients to take part, and help keep Australians’ hands and our environments clean and healthy.
