Schools and childcare centres nationwide are on high alert following the discovery of asbestos in a range of popular coloured sand products used for children's crafts and sensory play.
Nationwide Product Recall and Immediate Closures
The urgent recall affects three specific products: Kadink Sand (1.3kg), Educational Colours - Rainbow Sand (1.3kg), and Creatistics - Coloured Sand (1kg). These items were sold at major retailers including Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids, and Zart Art stores across Australia between 2020 and 2025.
The crisis led to immediate action on Friday, with more than 20 schools and preschools in the Australian Capital Territory being shut or partially shut. In Brisbane, Mancel College was initially open but closed shortly after the discovery of minor traces of the contaminated product in both its junior and senior schools. Parents were urgently asked to collect their children.
Official Response and Health Risk Assessment
Authorities have been quick to reassure the public. ACT WorkSafe Commissioner Jacqueline Agius stated that initial air tests at eight ACT schools returned negative for asbestos, indicating a low health risk to children. However, results from other forms of testing are still pending.
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry emphasised that the safety of students and staff is the top priority. Parents were due to receive an update on Sunday regarding whether schools could reopen on Monday.
Echoing the cautious approach, Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Catherine McDougall said, "While the risk is low, our priority is the health and safety of Queenslanders, and we want to take every possible precaution."
What Parents and Consumers Need to Do
Safety alerts have been issued in nearly every state and territory. Consumers who have purchased the identified sand products are advised to:
- Stop using the products immediately.
- Contain the sand and place it in double heavy-duty plastic bags.
- Secure the bag openings with tape and store it safely away from children until a safe disposal method is confirmed.
Childcare provider G8 Education sent an alert to families, confirming it had removed all coloured sand from its centres as a precaution. Meanwhile, Officeworks stated that an independent risk assessment found the safety risk to be "negligible," but proceeded with the recall as a preventative measure.
This incident follows recent asbestos scares involving contaminated mulch in Sydney and legacy contamination in Melbourne's parks, highlighting ongoing environmental safety challenges.
