17/11/2025
On Friday 14 November 2025 Catholic Education Tasmania received advice of an ACCC recall of certain coloured sand products as they contained traces of asbestos.
In response, Catholic Education Tasmania has worked with schools to identify and isolate any affected products in accordance with WorkSafe Tasmania protocols. Licensed professionals are being engaged to undertake removal, testing, and cleaning in all affected schools.
A number of classrooms where the sand has been present are currently unavailable for use as they undergo risk assessments.
Classrooms will remain closed while assessments are underway. As these spaces are essential for normal school operations, some schools will need to close temporarily while the risk assessment takes place.
Schools will be sending communications to families to advise of their current status.
Catholic Education Tasmania Executive Director Dr Gerard Gaskin acknowledges the disruption this may cause for families and says Catholic Education Tasmania is working to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible.
“While expert advice indicates the risk to our students and staff is very low, we are taking every precaution to ensure our school environments remain safe. Our communities can be confident that we are acting quickly, carefully, and in alignment with professional guidance.”
The following schools will be closed from Tuesday 18 November 2025 until further notice:
Partial closure
• Sacred Heart College, New Town (K-5 closed)
• St Aloysius Catholic College, Kingston (K-4 closed)
• Immaculate Heart Catholic School, Lenah Valley (Kinder and Prep)
Full closure
• Corpus Christi Catholic School, Bellerive
• Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston
• St Brigid’s Catholic School, Wynyard
• St John’s Catholic School, Richmond
• St Peter Chanel Catholic School, Smithton
• St Cuthbert’s Catholic School, Lindisfarne
Further updates will be published on the Catholic Education Tasmania website and communicated to families as the situation progresses.