November is when asbestos safety gets its biggest push of the year. National Asbestos Awareness Week runs from 23 to 29 November 2026, and councils are being asked to promote the campaign all month.
This year's message suits licensed operators well. It speaks to DIYers and volunteer handypeople, and it tells them to call a licensed asbestos professional before they start. If you're a removalist or assessor, that's the call you want to be getting.
What the 2026 campaign says
- Who it targets: The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) says its 2026 National Asbestos Awareness Campaign targets Australians aged 18 to 55, with a focus on DIYers, renovators and tradespeople.
- The message: The campaign reminds Australians that "Asbestos Can Kill". Its materials encourage homeowners to respect the risks, know the facts and seek expert guidance before starting a project at home that may involve asbestos.
- The local push: On 26 October, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) urged councils to promote the campaign throughout November, and especially during Awareness Week. LGNSW says the campaign "continues to challenge complacency from DIY-ers and volunteer handypeople" and has "a strong focus on encouraging people to contact a licensed asbestos professional".
- The scale of the problem: LGNSW notes that asbestos can still be found anywhere in homes built before 1990, affecting one in three homes nationwide.
- Free materials: ASSEA publishes a stakeholder pack with social media tiles and animations that anyone can use to share the message.
Awareness Week itself is held in the last week of November every year. ASSEA says it is a chance to remind people of the dangers of asbestos and of how much ageing asbestos is still in our homes and buildings.
Why it matters for your business
Every campaign that tells a homeowner to "call a licensed professional" ends with that homeowner searching for one. When they do, they want three things answered quickly:
- Is this business licensed for the job?
- Does it work in my area?
- Can I contact it today?
If your website, social pages and directory listings answer those questions, the campaign is doing your marketing for you.
Five ways to use Awareness Week
1. Share the official campaign assets
Download the 2026 stakeholder pack and post the tiles and animations on your Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages during November. Using the official material keeps your messaging consistent with the national campaign and saves you writing it from scratch. Add one line of your own at the end, such as the areas you cover and how to book an inspection.
2. Talk to your local council
Councils have been asked to promote the campaign, and many will be looking for local, practical content. Offer to help with a community talk, a stall at a hardware store or market, or a short Q&A for the council newsletter. Keep it educational rather than salesy. Councils won't endorse a single business, but being the local expert who turns up helps.
3. Give DIYers a clear "stop and call" message
The campaign is aimed at people who are about to drill, sand, cut or demolish something. Make it easy for them. A simple post or page that explains when to stop and get the material tested, and what an inspection involves, answers the question they are already asking. Remind them that removing friable asbestos needs a Class A licence and that removing more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos needs at least a Class B licence. Check your own state's rules before you post.
4. Make your licence details easy to find
Homeowners are being told to use a licensed professional, so show your licence class and number clearly on your website, quotes and listings. If you're an assessor, say so, and list the services you offer, such as inspections, testing, air monitoring and clearance certificates.
5. Check your directory listings before the week starts
Before 23 November, check every listing you have online:
- Your business name, phone number and website are current
- Your licence class and number are correct
- The towns and suburbs you service are listed
- Your services match what you actually do
Update your asbestoslist listing
Asbestoslist.com lists asbestos removalists, assessors, testing labs and disposal sites across Australia and New Zealand. If your business is on asbestoslist, claim your listing and check it before Awareness Week. Once it's claimed you can:
- Add the towns you service, so you show up when someone searches for a nearby suburb, not just your base town
- Add or confirm your licence details, so homeowners can see you're licensed for the job
- Keep your contact details current, so enquiries reach you
Find and claim your listing on asbestoslist.com
Key dates
- 1–30 November 2026: councils encouraged to promote the campaign
- 23–29 November 2026: National Asbestos Awareness Week