Enforceable undertaking with SafeWork NSW – asbestos management
The NSW Department of Education has entered into an enforceable undertaking (EU) with SafeWork NSW, which is an agreement with SafeWork NSW to continue to improve asbestos management in all NSW public schools and workplaces.
The EU is in response to asbestos handling at Castle Hill High School between 20 April 2015 and 30 October 2018.
The department prioritises the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff. Since 2018 the department has strengthened protocols when dealing with suspected asbestos finds, provided mandatory asbestos training for relevant staff and enhanced schools asbestos registers so they are updated publicly within 24 hours of changes.
In 2025, each school received a new School Asbestos Management Plan which includes its asbestos register, the asbestos incident management process and key points from the department’s overarching updated Asbestos Management Plan (AMP).
The EU supports the department’s commitment to further driving improvements to asbestos handling for staff and contractors.
Department principals and workplace managers’ roles and responsibilities will not change as a result of this EU. Staff can use the quick guide to help navigate asbestos management and understand their responsibilities.
Asbestos management training and education
Principals, public service senior executives, asset service officers and work health safety advisers are required to complete the control and management of asbestos e-learning module (staff only) on MyPL. The department’s Annual Competency Check also includes questions/information relating to how to access the department’s AMP and asbestos registers, as well has how to respond where asbestos is suspected or identified.
Additional training and education will be created as a result of the EU, including an innovative Hazardous Material Management Digital Platform, and new training materials relating to asbestos handling for contractors and staff.
The improvements committed under the EU will be delivered over approximately 2 years.
Notice of Acceptance of an Enforceable Undertaking under Part 11 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Between the periods of approximately 20 April 2015 to 30 October 2018, NSW Department of Education failed to discharge its obligations as a person conducting a business or undertaking under the WHS Act in that incidents of asbestos exposure occurred at Castle Hill High School.
SafeWork NSW investigated the incident and subsequently alleged that NSW Department of Education contravened section 19(1) 32 and 33, and 19(2) and 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
SafeWork NSW has accepted an enforceable undertaking from NSW Department of Education, ABN 40 300 173 822 in accordance with Part 11 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in relation to the abovementioned alleged contravention. This notice has been placed under the terms of the Enforceable Undertaking and acknowledges acceptance of the Enforceable Undertaking by NSW Department of Education.
The undertaking requires the following actions:
- The creation and implementation of a new hazardous materials management digital platform (HMMDP) for use by the NSW Department of Education, to effectively manage hazardous materials across all department assets. For the purposes of this Enforceable Undertaking, Asbestos will be the first and only material/substance that will be created and implemented within the platform, which will:
- centralise asbestos related data and information
- integrate and streamline contractor management
- enable asbestos risk profiling.
- Cross agency collaboration with other relevant NSW Government agencies to share knowledge, business capabilities, platform capabilities, lessons learned, and risk assessment methodology of the HMMDP.
- The creation of educational and informative asbestos related material and training modules for key department workers including:
- asset maintenance contractors
- education and support staff (corporate staff)
- all school based staff and the general public.
NSW Department of Education is committed to ensuring, as far as reasonably practicable, the ongoing health and safety of its workers and other persons. NSW Department of Education sincerely regrets the alleged contravention and extends its sympathy to the exposed workers and their families, NSW Department of Education workers and any others who have been affected by the incident.
This undertaking provides the ability to make further improvements in relation to health and safety within NSW Department of Education and its workforce, the industry and local community.
The full undertaking and general information about enforceable undertakings is available at safework.nsw.gov.au.
This public notice was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 13 February 2026.
Progress on the EU will be made available in the department's annual report in late 2026.