No Certificate, No Seat: Compulsory Strata Committee Training
- Timothy Lee
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Almost two decades ago, I was catapulted onto a strata committee of a large scheme.
One minute I was simply an owner. The next, I was partly responsible for helping lead a scheme managing an annual budget of over $2 million. It was a baptism of fire, and I had to learn quickly.
Having a degree in Property certainly helped. I understood buildings, finance and the broader property environment. Even so, the learning curve was huge. Strata has its own legislation, governance structures, meeting procedures, financial responsibilities and, of course, personalities. Nothing quite prepares you for the moment when decisions affecting people’s homes and millions of dollars in shared property land on you.
What changes from 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, new and returning NSW strata committee members will generally need to complete the free online course “Introduction to Strata Committee Rights and Responsibilities” within three months of being appointed or re-appointed. The training will be self-paced, available through Strata Hub and should take about one hour.
If the training is not completed by the deadline, the consequence is automatic: the person ceases to be a committee member.
In plain English: no certificate, no seat.
The requirement also applies to people appointed to fill a vacancy lasting more than three months. Members appointed before 1 October 2026 will not need to complete the course until they are next appointed, although they can choose to do it earlier. Exemptions apply to committee members in two-lot schemes, strata managing agents, members of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers and people filling a casual vacancy for less than three months.
Why Strata Committee training matters
Strata committee members are volunteers, but the decisions they make are significant. Committees deal with budgets, levies, major repairs, insurance, contracts, disputes and long-term planning. Those decisions can affect the financial position of every owner and the daily lives of everyone in the building.
Most people join because they care about their community, not because they arrive with a detailed understanding of strata law. When I joined my first committee, I learnt through experience and had knowledgeable people around me. Not everyone is that fortunate.
Training gives new committee members something I would have welcomed at the start: a clear introduction to the role, the committee’s authority, its legal duties and the fundamentals of good governance. It will not make anyone an expert in an hour, but it should give members a common foundation and help them understand when to ask questions or seek professional advice.
In my experience, many strata disagreements begin with uncertainty rather than bad intentions. People are often unsure whether a decision belongs with the committee or the owners corporation, what the strata manager is responsible for, or what process the legislation requires. Better-informed committees should have better conversations, ask better questions and make decisions with greater confidence.
Given the level of responsibility involved, one hour of training is a very modest commitment. More importantly, it reinforces that volunteering for a committee is valued and that committee members should feel supported and confident in their role, rather than having to work everything out as they go. Obviously, with Compass as your Strata Manager, you’ll have the guidance and support you need along the way, so you’re never left to navigate things on your own.
A positive step for strata communities
Compulsory training will not remove every challenge from strata. Committee members will still face difficult decisions, competing opinions and situations where there is no perfect answer.
What it will do is give people more help at the beginning than many of us had.
My own experience serving on strata committees taught me a great deal, and ultimately shaped the work I do today. I know firsthand that being on a committee can be rewarding, but it can also feel like there’s a lot to learn as you go.
That's when having an experienced Strata Manager beside you is invaluable. Someone who can provide guidance, context and practical advice when decisions need to be made, and who is there to help you navigate the things you haven’t come across before.
Because it really does take a village to create a thriving strata community. A committed committee, an experienced Strata Manager and engaged owners all have an important role to play.
At Compass, we believe in working alongside your committee, not simply managing it. If you’d like to see what that could look like for your community, don't be shy and reach out.
