President and CEO Report – Second Edition 2025

As we pass the midpoint of 2025, the Strata Community Association (SCA) continues to move forward with purpose, unity and a shared determination to elevate our sector. In the months since our last update, we have delivered on key strategic commitments, strengthened national advocacy, and expanded the support systems underpinning the professionalism and wellbeing of our members.

There is a growing recognition across the country, within governments, media and the wider community, of the vital role played by strata professionals in managing and safeguarding one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest and fastest growing forms of housing. The work of strata managers is no longer behind the scenes. It is front and centre in policy reform, public debate and community living.

At the heart of our efforts this year is a bold, multi pronged strategy. One that combines advocacy with education, culture change with stronger standards, and data with influence. It is a strategy that is beginning to deliver impact and results.

One of the most significant projects currently underway is the development of SCA’s Registered Training Organisation (RTO). This initiative represents a critical step in the professionalisation of our industry. Once launched, the RTO will deliver nationally recognised qualifications designed by strata managers for strata managers, including the Certificate IV and Diploma. These qualifications ensure strata professionals across the country have access to consistent, high quality education that reflects the real demands of the role. The RTO will form the backbone of a stronger, more capable and more confident future workforce.

Our focus on ethics and accountability has also deepened. The National Code of Ethics is now live and has been widely welcomed by the sector. Accompanied by a clear national complaints framework chaired independently, these initiatives are already providing a more transparent and consistent platform for professionalism. They also speak to the values we hold as a sector, including integrity, respect and service.

Underpinning much of our advocacy work this year is the 2024 Strata Insights Report. Drawing on detailed research and led by the team at UNSW City Futures, the report is a powerful snapshot of a maturing industry. It provides credible, evidence based data that supports our calls for policy reform on insurance, energy transition, infrastructure and strata law. It also gives us a shared language and set of facts with which to engage governments and key stakeholders. The numbers tell a compelling story of growth, demand and increasing responsibility.

We are already leveraging this data in our submissions and engagements with governments across the country, including high-level meetings in Canberra during the first sitting week of Parliament. This included formal discussions with Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, who confirmed that strata is a vital component of the government’s strategy to address the housing crisis. We also held a productive meeting with the senior advisor to Dr Anne Aly, Minister for Small Business. These discussions offered valuable opportunities to explore the complexities of the strata sector and identify ways to work collaboratively with government to shape policies that reflect its rapid growth and evolving needs.

We are now viewed by governments and regulators as a trusted and credible partner, capable of providing solutions that work in practice as well as in policy. Our ability to influence federal discussions demonstrates the maturity and professionalism of our organisation. National advocacy is no longer a single campaign or moment in time. It is an integrated, year round effort built on strong foundations and delivered through collective expertise.

This strategic advocacy is also influencing national agendas. We have secured a seat at multiple federal policy tables, including those focused on insurance reform, energy transition and sustainable building management. Our continued engagement on electric vehicle readiness in strata settings, for example, has ensured our sector is no longer an afterthought. It is now a priority.

While policy and regulation is at the front of mind, we are actively advocating for government action to address the growing issue of disruptive owners within strata communities. These individuals can significantly impact the wellbeing, safety, and functionality of schemes, often creating conflict, delaying decisions, and increasing costs for all residents. SCA is asking for clearer pathways for dealing with persistently disruptive behaviour, including potential tribunal orders and behavioural codes.

Our communication and public engagement strategy continues to evolve. We are investing in telling the positive stories of our sector, of trusted professionals delivering complex services and of communities thriving through strong management. Through traditional media, digital platforms and regional outreach, we are reshaping public understanding of what it means to live and work in strata.

As always, none of this progress would be possible without the continued leadership and input of our employees, volunteers, state presidents, national committees and of course, our members. It is this collective drive that gives SCA its strength and the strata sector its future.

We are proud of what we have achieved together in the first half of the year. But we are even more energised by what lies ahead. With strong foundations now in place, we are ready to keep building, keep improving and keep leading.

ALISHA FISHER, AUSTRALASIA CEO 

JOSHUA BALDWIN, AUSTRALASIA PRESIDENT