All Tasmanian government schools have undergone audits after asbestos was discovered in popular craft sand products, while several private and Catholic schools have shut their doors as a precaution.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recalled several coloured sand brands last week after testing detected naturally occurring tremolite asbestos in some samples.
Private schools including The Friends’ School, The Hutchins School and St Michael’s Collegiate closed on Tuesday while assessments were carried out.
A number of Catholic schools also shut, including Sacred Heart College in New Town, St Aloysius Catholic College in Kingston and Corpus Christi Catholic School in Bellerive.
Government schools, however, remained open, even though some had the recalled products on site.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said the government had taken a “proactive approach”, noting that federal health advice indicated the risk was low.
“The audit included all government schools, libraries and child and family learning centre sites to determine the use of the sand throughout these sites,” she said.
“An accredited asbestos assessor has been engaged to assist in identifying the risks and any controls that may be necessary to mitigate and prevent any future risk.”
“All schools and CFLCs have been provided with the appropriate advice around what to do if they find sand, including isolating areas if the sand has been used.”
Schools have written to parents confirming some products were found in classrooms but said they had been withdrawn from use and securely isolated.
“We are aware that the product has been used in some parts of our school,” Gagebrook Primary School principal Kelly Hartnett wrote.
“We are currently following WorkSafe Tasmania advice and will provide you with more information as it becomes available.”
The recalled products include Educational Colours Rainbow Sand, Creatistics Coloured Sand, Kadink Sand and several Anko Magic Sand products sold between January 2020 and November 2025.
Labor leader Josh Willie said the difference in responses between government and non-government schools was “causing great alarm”.
“While potentially affected sand is present in all three systems, school closures are primarily occurring in private and catholic schools,” he said.
Palmer said an incident management team was supporting affected sites and each school was undergoing a risk assessment.
“Our priority is the safety and well-being of students and staff,” she said.
If you have the affected products, you are advised to:
– Stop using them immediately
– Seal the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double-tape the opening
– Keep the sealed bag out of children’s reach
– Do not dispose of the product in general waste
– Contact your local council for asbestos-safe disposal advice
