act school closures

Asbestos Fears Trigger Major ACT School Closures: What Parents Need to Know

A sudden and widespread health scare has sent shockwaves through the Australian Capital Territory, forcing the closure of dozens of schools and leaving thousands of families in a state of uncertainty. The cause? A seemingly harmless product found in classrooms and art rooms across the region: coloured sand.

In a rapidly evolving situation, ACT health and education officials have ordered the closure of up to 69 schools following the discovery of asbestos in decorative sand products supplied to educational institutions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the events, the official response, and what it means for the Canberra community.

The Unfolding Crisis: A 24-Hour Scramble

The situation escalated quickly, transforming from a minor concern into a full-blown emergency response involving the closure of nearly the entire public school system in the ACT.

The Initial Trigger

The chain of events began with a national safety alert. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a warning regarding "Kadink Decorative Sand," a product sold primarily through Kmart and Target. Testing revealed that the sand, often used in school art programs and playrooms, contained trace amounts of chrysotile asbestos.

In response, the ACT Government moved swiftly. On Friday, November 14, 2025, an initial list of 16 public schools was closed for the day, with several others placed under partial closure. The immediate action was taken as a precautionary measure to allow for initial risk assessments.

A Dramatic Escalation

Just as parents and students were adjusting to the initial closures, the situation took a dramatic turn. Over the weekend, investigations revealed that the contaminated sand had a much wider distribution than initially realised.

According to reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the ACT Government announced on Sunday, November 16, that the number of affected schools would rise significantly. The official statement confirmed that a total of 69 schools—spanning both primary and high school levels—would be closed from Monday, November 17. This decision effectively put nearly the entire public school system on pause, a move unprecedented in recent Canberra history.

Education officials stated that the closures were necessary to allow licensed asbestos assessors to conduct thorough inspections and air quality tests across all potentially affected sites.

Why This Matters: The Nature of the Risk

The core of the crisis lies in the material itself. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, poses significant long-term health risks if its fibres are inhaled. While officials have been quick to state that the immediate health risk is considered "low," the mere presence of the substance in a school environment is enough to trigger a zero-tolerance response.

The product in question, decorative coloured sand, is particularly concerning because of how it is used. Unlike solid building materials, sand is loose and easily disturbed. Activities like pouring, sculpting, and playing with the sand could potentially aerosolise fibres, increasing the risk of inhalation. This context explains the extreme caution being exercised by authorities.

"The presence of any asbestos has led to immediate closures while testing and clean-up work begins. Although officials say the health risk is considered low, the presence of any asbestos has led to an immediate and robust response." - The Educator K/12

A Timeline of the Response

To understand the speed and scale of the government's reaction, it is helpful to look at the sequence of events:

• Thursday, November 14 (Morning): The ACCC issues a national recall for Kadink Decorative Sand due to asbestos contamination.
• Thursday, November 14 (Afternoon): The ACT Government closes 16 public schools and partially closes several others as a precaution.
• Friday, November 15 - Sunday, November 16: Investigations intensify. Authorities discover that the contaminated sand, and similar products from other suppliers like Kmart and Target, have been used much more widely across the school system.
• Sunday, November 16 (Evening): The ACT Government announces that 69 schools will be closed from Monday, November 17, for comprehensive testing and cleaning.

This timeline, detailed in reports by The Canberra Times, highlights a 24-hour scramble where the scale of the problem rapidly outpaced the initial response.

Historical Context: Australia's Enduring Asbestos Legacy

For older Australians, this news will likely trigger a sense of unease, if not outright dread. Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world, a legacy of the material's widespread use in construction and manufacturing from the 1940s through to the 1980s.

While the use of asbestos was banned in 2003, the danger has never fully disappeared. The current crisis is a stark reminder that this legacy can resurface in unexpected ways. It is not a relic of the past but an active threat that requires constant vigilance.

This is not the first time a consumer product has been found to contain asbestos. Over the years, there have been recalls for everything from children's toys to cosmetic powders. However, the current situation is unique in its direct and widespread impact on the school system.

The Immediate Impact on Families and the Community

The closure of 69 schools has immediate and far-reaching consequences for the Canberra community.

Disruption to Education

The primary concern is the disruption to learning. With schools closed indefinitely, students are missing critical class time. While some schools may attempt to move to online learning, this is not a seamless transition for all year levels, particularly for younger children and students in practical, hands-on subjects.

Logistical Challenges

For working parents, the sudden and indefinite closures present a significant logistical nightmare. Finding last-minute childcare or taking time off work at short notice is a major challenge for thousands of families across the ACT. The uncertainty of when schools might reopen only adds to the stress.

Economic and Regulatory Fallout

The economic impact is twofold. First, there is the direct cost of the extensive testing and any necessary remediation or cleaning of the 69 affected schools. Second, the crisis has triggered a wider commercial response.

As reported by The Guardian, major retailers Kmart and Target have recalled a range of coloured sand products as a precautionary measure. This move will have a significant financial impact on the retailers and their suppliers, and it could lead to further scrutiny of supply chains for educational materials.

Moving Forward: What Happens Next?

As the ACT enters a period of widespread school closures, the focus shifts to the path of recovery and reopening.

The Testing and 'All-Clear' Process

The immediate priority for ACT Education and Health officials is to get a definitive picture of the contamination. Licensed assessors are conducting rigorous testing at all 69 sites. According to reports, this process could take several days. Air testing is a critical component, and early results from a number of schools have reportedly returned negative, a promising sign.

A Cautious Reopening

The reopening of schools will be a phased and cautious process. It will be entirely dependent on the results of the asbestos assessments. Schools will not reopen until they receive the "all-clear" from licensed professionals.

The schools that were closed on Friday, November 14, are expected to reopen on Monday, November 17, pending the results of initial tests. However, the much larger group of 69 schools closed from Monday onwards faces a longer period of uncertainty. The goal is to ensure that when students return, they are entering a completely safe environment.

Long-Term Implications

This event is likely to have lasting effects on the ACT's education system. It will almost certainly trigger a comprehensive review of procurement policies for all materials used in schools, especially those intended for hands-on use by children. There will be a demand for greater transparency and more rigorous safety testing to prevent a similar incident from ever happening again.

For the families of Canberra, the hope is for a swift and safe resolution. The "all-clear" can't come soon enough, but as this crisis has shown, when it comes to the health of children, there can be no compromises.