More than 70 schools closed over asbestos sand after Kmart, Target recall

More than 70 schools across the ACT will remain closed after some of Australia’s biggest retailers pulled popular play sand off the shelves over fears it may contain asbestos.

At least 15 schools were shuttered on Friday by the ACT Education Directorate after advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

In a national recall, the ACCC found Kadink decorative sand may contain tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos.

The sand is used at some schools for sensory play as well as arts and crafts.

The number of affected schools had widened significantly by Monday, with 72 schools across Canberra and the Jervis Bay areas closed by the department.

An ACT government audit found 69 schools had stocked Kadink decorative sand, while three further schools had small, isolated stock.

Some 20 schools were found not to stock the sand and were scheduled to open as normal on Monday morning.

The ACT government maintains the closures are precautionary and will allow for assessment, clean-up, and remediation.

On Sunday, ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said that work “could take days”.

“Education Officials and expert asbestos contractors worked tirelessly over the weekend to clear as many classrooms in as many schools as possible,” she said.

Visual inspections are expected to be conducted in every school containing the Kadink Sand with assistance from the ACT SES.

Licensed asbestos contractors will then be brought in to test, remediate, and clear the spaces for use again.

Kadink Sand was also identified at more than 100 sites in South Australia, though only about 20 had loose sand, according to the state government.

A further 88 schools had the sand in containers, which the state government was helping to manage and remove.

The Northern Territory government identified 41 schools to have the affected products as of 3.30pm on Friday.

No schools had been closed, though the Department of Education stated that classrooms would be isolated if required to allow for testing.

Neither the Northern Territory nor South Australian governments confirmed how many schools were directly impacted.

A single school in Brisbane was also closed following the recall on Friday.

A NSW government spokesperson confirmed on Monday morning that no schools in the state had been closed.

“As a precaution, a safety alert has been sent to all NSW public schools to immediately and safely remove these sand products if they have them,” they said.

What products have been recalled?

Kmart and Target recalled a 14-piece sand castle building set, blue, green and pink magic Sand over asbestos fears at the weekend.

Officeworks on Friday said it had also voluntarily removed Kadink decorative sand 10g six-pack from its shelves.

So far, three separate sand products have been subject to the recall.

The full list includes

EC rainbow sand (1.3kg)

• EVRS1CB - Choc brown
• EVRS1OR - Orange
• EVRS1PK - Pink
• SD001-BE - Blue
• SD001-BK - Black
• SD001-DG - Dark green
• SD001-PU - Purple
• SD001-RE - Red
• SD001-YE - Yellow

Creatistics coloured sand (1kg)

• EC700 - Pink
• EC701 - Black
• EC702 - Blue
• EC703 - Brown
• EC704 - Green
• EC705 - Purple
• EC706 - Red
• EC707 - White
• EC708 - Yellow
• EC713 - Orange

Kadink sand (1.3kg)

• EVKADS13BL - Blue
• EVKADS13GR - Green
• EVKADS13NAT - Natural
• EVKADS13PK - Pink
• EVKADS13PUR - Purple
• EVKADS13RD - Red
• EVKADS13YL - Yellow
• KDCOLSDMIX - Assorted colours

Active sandtub 14 piece sand castle building set

Active sandtub 14 piece sand castle building set - multi-coloured - Kmart 42975724 - Target 69581984

Blue magic sand - Kmart 42304364

Green magic sand - Kmart 42919650

Pink magic sand - Kmart 42304371

Kadink decorative sand 10g six-pack was also recalled.

The product featured the number KDOWK0089 and was sold at Officeworks between August 1, 20202 and November 12, 2025.

What shops sold the products

More than 80 retailers stocked one or more of the impacted products, including Officeworks and Kmart.

Officeworks stocked a range of the affected products, including Kadink Sand and the 10g six-pack variants.

Kmart and Target both stocked the Active Sandtub 14 piece Sand Castle Building Set.

Blue, Green, and Pink variants of the sand were only sold at Kmart.

The full list of affected businesses is:

• Kmart Australia
• Target Australia
• ABC School Supplies
• Arrow Group Australia
• Bambam Kids Toys
• Bellbird Kid-Z
• Bona - Kids and Family
• Cam Art Craft & Technology
• Campion Education
• Central Victorian Office Supplies
• Chris Humphrey Office National
• Clever Bugs
• CleverPatch
• Collective Play
• Collins Craft
• Colourful Learning
• Complete Office Supplies
• COS Sydney
• Eden Play
• Edu-21
• Educating Kids
• Education National
• Educational Art Supplies
• Eduplay
• Elizabeth Richards
• Everyday Office National
• Friends of K
• GNS Wholesale Stationers
• Growing Child
• Harley’s Educational
• Haywood Education Resources
• House of Nappies
• Impact Investments
• Impact Office Supplies
• Instant Supply
• Jenny’s Classroom & Toys2
• Kangaroo
• Kesco Educational
• Kookaburra Edu Resources
• Little Messy Learners
• Maxim Office Group
• McClures Supplies
• Mega Thing Pty Ltd
• Melbourne Office Supplies
• Melly and Me Toys
• Memo Office and Art
• Mini Zoo
• Modern Teaching Aids
• My Playroom
• O’Donnells Office Products Depot
• Office Choice
• Office Corporate
• Office National
• Officeworks
• Olympia Office Products
• Paperchase Office National
• Play Like Coco
• Play Our Way
• Pricebreakers
• Pronin International
• Read On Books Eastgardens
• Ross Office Supplies
• Satex Distributors
• SBA Office National
• School Art Supplies
• School Club
• School Purchasing Services
• Scouts & Sprouts
• Sensory Kingdom
• Statewideone Hygiene Services
• Stuart & Dunn Office Choice
• Suppleyes
• Teacher Superstore
• The General Stationery
• The Play Room
• Therapy For Kids Perth
• Tosco Office National
• Toys2Learn
• Tristate Opd
• Two Bays Office Products
• United Office Choice
• WA Stationery
• Winc
• Wood You Like To Play
• Woolworths Supermarkets
• Your Office Choice
• Zart Art

Ms Berry said the Kmart and Target recall had prompted the further school closures.

“The situation nationally has changed again,” Ms Berry said on Sunday.

“Unfortunately, these sand products are even more widely used in our schools than the Officeworks products.”

Why has it been recalled and is it dangerous?

A ban on importing asbestos has been in place in Australia since 2003.

Breathing in these asbestos fibres can damage lung tissue and over time lead to lung diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

It can take about 20-30 years for symptoms to show after asbestos exposure.

Tremolite asbestos, which was found in the products, is a naturally occurring asbestos found in some rocks, sediments, and soils in Australia.

Any person or business believing they have an affected product was urged to stop using it immediately before isolating it, including turning off any air conditioners.

A licensed asbestos would then need to assess the risk and determine what action to be taken.

According to the ACCC, asbestos was detected during laboratory testing of the affected products.

An interim notice from the Department of Health noted the recall was “precautionary” and to minimise potential risks.

“Preliminary assessment indicates that there is a low risk to human health from these products,” a statement said.

“Based on the currently available information, we do not recommend any clinical assessment for those who may have been in contact with these products.”Ms Berry said “all of the advice to date confirms that the risk is low”.

“All of the air testing that our contractors have done across public schools so far has been negative to airborne asbestos,” she said.

“Health officials yesterday confirmed that the risk is very low, and they do not recommend any clinical assessment for people in contact with these products.

“However, the ACT has strong work health and safety laws, and we are required to eliminate risk as much as reasonably practicable.

“If we suspect it could be asbestos, we must treat it as asbestos.”

The ACCC said release of respirable asbestos fibres is unlikely to occur in its current state, unless the sand is processed by mechanical means such as crushing or pulverising.