Update 4.30pm Monday 17 November 2025 – recall of coloured sand products

Published

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.

The three early childhood services that were closed today, Monday 17 November have been cleaned and will be opened tomorrow, Tuesday 18 November 2025.

  • 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:

  • Amoonguna School
  • Driver Primary School
  • Girraween Primary School
  • Humpty Doo Primary School
  • Nemarluk School
  • Nightcliff Primary School
  • Woodroffe Primary School.

As at 4:30 pm, Monday 17 November 2025, 42 government schools have reported they have products requiring disposal, and as precautionary measure this may include non-recalled sand products. These schools are:

  1. Alawa Primary School
  2. Alekarenge School
  3. Ampilatwatja School
  4. Anula Primary School
  5. Barunga School
  6. Braitling Primary School
  7. Bulman School
  8. Canteen Creek School
  9. Centralian Middle School
  10. Elliot School
  11. Gillen Primary School
  12. Gray Primary School
  13. Gunbalanya School
  14. Howard Springs Primary School
  15. Jabiru Area School
  16. Karama Primary School
  17. Laramba School
  18. Larapinta Primary School
  19. Larrakeyah Primary School
  20. Leanyer Primary School
  21. Maningrida School
  22. Manunda Terrace Primary School
  23. Milingimbi School
  24. Moil Primary School
  25. Moulden Park Primary School
  26. Nganambala School
  27. Ngukurr School
  28. Nhulunbuy Primary School
  29. Nyirrpi School
  30. Pine Creek School
  31. Rockhampton Downs School
  32. Rosebery Primary School
  33. Tennant Creek Primary School
  34. Titjikala School
  35. Umbakumba School
  36. Urapunga School
  37. Wallace Rockhole School
  38. Warruwi School
  39. Watiyawanu School
  40. Willowra School
  41. Wugularr School
  42. Yuendumu School

Cleaning of priority sites has commenced in line with advice provided by contractors and NT WorkSafe. Schools experiencing the highest level of impact have been prioritised for remediation.

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:

  1. Acacia Hill School
  2. Alyangula Area School
  3. Amoonguna School
  4. Bakewell Primary School
  5. Bees Creek Primary School
  6. Borroloola School
  7. Bradshaw Primary School
  8. Casuarina Street Primary School
  9. Clyde Fenton Primary School
  10. Driver Primary School
  11. Forrest Parade School
  12. Girraween Primary School
  13. Harts Range School
  14. Henbury School
  15. Humpty Doo Primary School
  16. Jilkminggan School
  17. Jingili Primary School
  18. Kalkaringi School
  19. Katherine South Primary School
  20. Kintore Street School
  21. Lajamanu School
  22. MacFarlane Primary School
  23. Malak Primary School
  24. Nemarluk School
  25. Newcastle Waters School
  26. Nightcliff Primary School
  27. Nitjpurru School
  28. Ntaria School
  29. Parap Primary School
  30. Ramingining School
  31. Ross Park Primary School
  32. Sadadeen Primary School
  33. Shepherdson College
  34. Stuart Park Primary School
  35. Taminmin College
  36. Top End School of Flexible Learning
  37. Wagaman Primary School
  38. Wanguri Primary School
  39. Woodroffe Primary School
  40. Wulagi Primary School
  41. Yulara School
  42. Zuccoli Primary School.

The department 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

Recall sand 5pm update

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