Update 1.30pm Monday 17 November 2025 – recall of coloured sand products
The Department of Education and Training continuing to work with NT WorkSafe and NT Health following a national recall of several brands of children’s coloured sand products that may contain chrysotile or tremolite asbestos.
Air testing undertaken at 10 school sites has returned clear results, with no airborne or respirable asbestos detected. The risk to human health remains low.
There will be no government school closures, and there are no notified closures in the non-government school sector.
Three early childhood services are closed today to allow for cleaning to occur:
- Palmerston Christian College Early Learning Centre
- Marrara Christian College Early Learning Centre
- Our Holy Spirit Early Learning Centre, Casuarina
Seven government schools are providing alternative teaching and learning programs today while disposal and cleaning occurs:
- Nightcliff Primary School
- Girraween Primary School
- Humpty Doo Primary School
- Driver Primary School
- Woodroffe Primary School
- Amoonguna School
- Katherine South Primary School
As at 1:30 pm, Monday 17 November 2025, 40 government schools have reported they have products requiring disposal, and as precautionary measure this may include non-recalled sand products. These schools are:
- Alekarenge School
- Ampilatwatja School
- Anula Primary School
- Barunga School
- Braitling Primary School
- Bulman School
- Canteen Creek School
- Centralian Middle School
- Elliot School
- Gillen Primary School
- Gray Primary School
- Gunbalanya School
- Jabiru Area School
- Karama Primary School
- Laramba School
- Larapinta Primary School
- Larrakeyah Primary School
- Leanyer Primary School
- Maningrida School
- Manunda Terrace Primary School
- Milingimbi School
- Moil Primary School
- Moulden Park Primary School
- Nganambala School
- Ngukurr School
- Nhulunbuy Primary School
- Nyirrpi School
- Pine Creek School
- Rockhampton Downs School
- Rosebery Primary School
- Tennant Creek Primary School
- Titjikala School
- Umbakumba School
- Urapunga School
- Wallace Rockhole School
- Warruwi School
- Watiyawanu School
- Willowra School
- Wugularr School
- Yuendumu School
Classrooms in 42 government schools require cleaning where the sand product was not sealed. Some of these schools have students working in alternate learning spaces. The affected classrooms are contained and will be opened when cleaning is completed by approved contractors. These schools are:
- Acacia Hill School
- Alyangula Area School
- Amoonguna School
- Bakewell Primary School
- Bees Creek Primary School
- Borroloola School
- Bradshaw Primary School
- Casuarina Street Primary School
- Clyde Fenton Primary School
- Driver Primary School
- Forrest Parade School
- Girraween Primary School
- Harts Range School
- Henbury School
- Humpty Doo Primary School
- Jilkminggan School
- Jingili Primary School
- Kalkaringi School
- Katherine South Primary School
- Kintore Street School
- Lajamanu School
- MacFarlane Primary School
- Malak Primary School
- Nemarluk School
- Newcastle Waters School
- Nightcliff Primary School
- Nitjpurru School
- Ntaria School
- Parap Primary School
- Ramingining School
- Ross Park Primary School
- Sadadeen Primary School
- Shepherdson College
- Stuart Park Primary School
- Taminmin College
- Top End School of Flexible Learning
- Wagaman Primary School
- Wanguri Primary School
- Woodroffe Primary School
- Wulagi Primary School
- Yulara School
- Zuccoli Primary School.
The department is prioritising schools that experiencing the highest level of impact for cleaning and is supporting schools with communications to families.
Disposal information
For safe disposal options, Territorians can visit asbestos.nt.gov.au/removing-asbestos or the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency’s national disposal facility search tool at asbestossafety.gov.au/who-contact/search-disposal-facilities
