What will be included in the mandatory training?
The mandatory training consists of six ten-minute units, each focusing on a key area of strata living and what it means to serve on the committee. The units are as follows:
Unit 1 | What Is Strata?
The basics: lots and common property, how owners corporations and strata committees fit together, and how decisions are made.
We expect this to include practical examples, such as whether a balcony or window forms part of an owner’s lot or common property. This distinction matters because it’s one of the most common sources of dispute in strata. A committee that assumes a balcony repair is “the owner’s problem,” when it’s actually common property, can end up in an avoidable and costly disagreement.
Unit 2 | What Is the Strata Committee?
Strata committee and office-holder roles, the extent of the committee’s decision-making authority, and when to engage a professional.
We’d expect this unit to cover the line between decisions the strata committee can make on its own and matters requiring a general meeting. This comes up constantly in practice. A new strata committee member might assume they can approve a large capital works project on the spot, when it actually needs Owners Corporation approval at a general meeting. Knowing where that line sits from day one avoids decisions being challenged later. Our Strata Committee Guide goes further into strata committee authority if you want more detail.
Unit 3 | Time, Workload and Decision-Making
Preparing for meetings, keeping proper records of decisions, and understanding what it means to act on behalf of Owners Corporation and the building.
This unit will likely explain why minutes are treated as a legal record rather than a summary. Poorly kept minutes can become a real liability if a decision is ever disputed. A strata committee that records the reasoning behind a decision, not just the outcome, is in a much stronger position if that decision is questioned months or years later.
Unit 4 | Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
Acting with care and diligence, managing conflicts of interest, and making decisions fairly and lawfully.
You can expect the unit to look at scenarios involving declared interests, for example, a strata committee member weighing in on a maintenance contract awarded to a business they’re connected to. These duties aren’t just best practice; they’re legal obligations under NSW strata law, requiring strata committee members to act with honesty, fairness, and due care and diligence. A strata committee member who fails to declare a conflict, even unintentionally, can put both themselves and the owners corporation at risk.
Unit 5 | Taking Care of Your Home: Your Money and Your Building
Strata funds, capital works planning, and the tools available for maintenance and repairs.
We expect this unit to explore the distinction between the administrative fund and the capital works fund, and the case for planning ahead on big-ticket items rather than reacting once something fails. Confusing the two funds is a common misstep for new strata committee members, and one that can leave a scheme caught short when a major repair comes up unexpectedly.
Unit 6 | People, Conflict Management and Lawful Conduct
What strata committee duties look like in practice, managing disagreement, and maintaining calm, fair conduct.
This unit will likely draw on everyday friction points, such as noise complaints or by-law disagreements. Strata committee members are often the first point of contact when tension arises between neighbours. Knowing how to de-escalate a disagreement calmly, rather than letting it turn personal, can be the difference between a quick resolution and a drawn-out dispute.
