Craft sand products in schools
Advice for ACT public school families
In November 2025, authorities issued safety warnings about craft sand found to include traces of asbestos.
While personal health risks are very low, under ACT work health and safety laws, any products containing asbestos must be removed by a licensed asbestos assessor.
Craft sand products had been used in many ACT public schools and some schools were closed for a short time so we could safely remove craft sand products.
Our asbestos safety measures
Why did schools need to close?
Under ACT work health and safety laws, any products containing asbestos must be removed by a licensed asbestos assessor.
Some rooms and learning spaces at our schools needed to be closed until craft sand products could be safely removed. This loss of available space for learning lead to the closure of some schools.
Sand products have now been safely removed, and these schools have been cleared for use by a licensed assessor.
What is the process for clearing schools?
When a contaminated sand product is found, the area is isolated from use and the product contained. In some cases, this may mean safely leaving the product in a cupboard or could mean the closure of an entire room or learning space.
Licensed asbestos removalists and assessors are then engaged to attend the school.
Contaminated products are safely removed and spaces are cleaned. The licensed asbestos assessor will then provide a clearance certificate confirming the spaces are safe to re-open.
Further lab testing arranged by the Education Directorate has confirmed asbestos was present in samples of the sand removed from 4 (out of 10) schools. These results support the original safety advice and the need for careful removal.
Is contaminated sand still at some schools?
It is possible schools will continue to find sand products they have in storage. When this happens, school staff will follow work health safety processes to isolate the product until it can be removed and cleared by a licensed assessor.
Safe disposal at home
ACCC’s Product Safety advice will help you understand how to safely dispose of any recalled craft sand products. It also provides health information about these products.
Worksafe ACT’s safety advice provides step-by-step guidance on removing the product from your home or workplace.
If you have any craft sand products at home, do not bring them to school.
Advice for Early Childhood Education and Care and non-government schools
The Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA), and Regulator for non-government schools, provided advice to early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and non-government schools about the management of both products.
Families should seek advice from their ECEC or non-government school about arrangements in place for their specific location.
Child Care Subsidy Fee Waivers for OSHC providers
The Australian Department of Education has declared a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency nationally, following the recall of contaminated sand products.
The CCS period of emergency applies from 12 to 21 November 2025.
During this period, out of school hours care services may be able to claim CCS whilst closed (for enrolled hours during the period) and families may be able to access gap fee waivers and extra absences.
Information is available on the Department of Education website for impacted services, including CCS contact details. Providers at ACT public schools will need to include a copy of the correspondence you received from your school about the requirement for full/partial closure.
Health advice
Australin health authorities have issued health advice about imported coloured and decorative sand products. Testing shows that there is very low risk to human health from these products.
Regulatory authorities are advising people to stop using the products at home and dispose of them appropriately. Workplaces, including schools, should follow the advice from their state or territory work, health and safety agency.
National Asbestos Exposure Register
The Australian Government’s Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency has a National Asbestos Exposure Register (NAER).
The NAER is a register for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to asbestos. Submitting information helps ensure accurate details are recorded after exposure in case of any future asbestos-related health issues.
Hazardous material removal in ACT public schools
For more information please visit Keeping schools safe from hazardous materials page.