Asbestos exposure affects three staff at Canberra health centre
Three ACT government staff were potentially exposed to asbestos at a health centre closed since June.
A Canberra health centre has been closed since June. Asbestos was found during routine maintenance.
Three members of the heating, ventilation and cooling team were told they had been exposed to asbestos-containing material. The City Health Centre at 1 Moore Street was set to reopen in days.
But the closure has gone on for months. Tests found contaminated material in the ground and the level 1 floor mezzanine plant room.
It was also in machinery and in ducting. Samples were collected on June 26.
Results came back on June 29. The three staff members were offered testing with workplace health and safety officials and an outside medical provider.
Health services were moved around Canberra. These included abortion care, contraception, breast screening, some mental health and dental services.
- 3 members of HVAC team
- Staff potentially exposed
- City Health Centre, 1 Moore Street
- Location
- Friday, June 18, 2026
- Discovery date
- Monday, June 29, 2026
- Test results date
Why it mattersAsbestos exposure causes serious long-term health risks, even from brief contact. Testing and ongoing monitoring of the three staff members is important.
AustraliaACT residents have experienced prolonged disruption to health services; this is the second asbestos incident in ACT public facilities in a year after 70 schools were closed in November 2025.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
