New ANZSCO Classifications Proposed
As population growth persists, so too does the demand and development high-density urban housing options. Accordingly, the size and scale of the strata community management industry is linked very closely to how many new apartment, townhouse and other strata-titled buildings are being created.
As the strata management industry continues to evolve, the correct categorisation of strata management in ANZSCO holds significant value, particularly in the push towards regulation, sector growth and recognition, and the overall professionalism of the industry.
Importantly, correct categorisation of the strata management occupation will assist in the push towards regulation, by enabling policymakers to develop and tailor regulations to specific roles within the industry through standardised job titles, and facilitate effective compliance as a result.
Similarly, it will offer a structured way to identify job roles and skill requirements, creating a clear career path and progression trajectory within the industry. Employees and potential employees will better understand the skills and experience needed to advance their careers, which will ultimately assist in both retaining and bringing more people to the strata industry, in a time where the sector is being significantly impacted by skill shortages.
What is ANZSCO?
ANZSCO stands for the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. It is the framework by which all occupations and jobs in the Australian and New Zealand labour market are classified.
The framework for classifying all occupations within the labour market is extensive, and is done through identifying a set list of occupations, defining these occupations according to their attributes and grouping them in categories, and further subcategories, in a hierarchical classification system.
Why is the ANZSCO Framework Important
In essence, ANZSCO provides a basis for the collection and analysis of occupation data in Australia and New Zealand. According to the ABS, ANZSCO is intended to provide an “integrated system for storing, organising and reporting occupation-related information.”
The collection and storage of this data has immense utility.
For example, the ANZSCO helps the collation of data that may:
• Support important policy formulation, through the ability to track employment trends.
• Assist in decisions surrounding workforce and skill development strategies.
• Help design targeted, skilled migration programs to assist in labour market shortages, and;
• Guide the development of educational pathways for industry, by aligning programs with the current demands of the labour market.
2022 Australian Update
The current ANZSCO framework, whilst comprehensive, is exceedingly outdated for the contemporary labour market. According to the ABS, whilst the ANZSCO has had some minor updates since its publication, it still largely reflects the original 2006 version of ANZSCO, which was based on the 2001 labour market.
For example, “Outdoor Adventure Guides”1 (guides that instruct individuals in activities like bungy jumping, fishing and hunting) currently have their own Unit Group under the ANZSCO framework that lists related roles, yet strata managers do not.
As a result of this disparity, the ABS has initiated a comprehensive, multi-year review of the ANZSCO, with the goal of ensuring that the classification framework is revised to accurately represent the modern Australian labour market.
Strata Community Association Submission
The current framework does not adequately describe the tasks or functions of a professional employed in the strata community management industry.
Presently, the ANZSCO framework has only one classification for professionals within the strata community management industry, which sits as a “Property Manager with specialisation of body corporate manager,” within unit group 6121 Real Estate Sales Agents.
As we know, strata managers are unique in their role, and quite separate from that of a role of a real estate sales agent or property managers.
Thus, SCA’s submission to round 2 of the ANZSCO review is centred around a push to break out of our existing classification, and obtain a new Unit Group classification. SCA believes the new Unit Group should be created for strata community managers based on:
• The size of the strata industry and employment in roles within the strata industry;
• The unique education requirements;
• The industry-specific governing legislation; and
• The job tasks and functions.
SCA proposes that strata managers are divided as a separate unit group within a relevant property related minor group, with up to three specific occupations which can be attributed to our industry.
Principal / Branch Manager: Make decisions critical to the overall direction of an organisation. They oversee the policies, settings and resourcing so that the organisation achieves short-term objectives and meets long-term goals.
Strata Community Manager: Provide the administrative services to strata communities, and look after some of the designated functions for the common property which is shared across all owners.
Assistant Strata Community Manager: Provide administrative services to the strata community manager, to support the strata communities at an entry level.
View Comments
(0)