President and CEO Report – Autumn 2024

Members and Stakeholders,

As always, we are delighted to present to you our quarterly edition of Inside Strata. It is hard to believe that we are already at this stage of the year, with time seeming to fly past in the first few months of 2024.

We thank outgoing region Presidents Julie McLean, Catherine Lezer, Joshua Baldwin, Joanne Barreto and Sally Bevis for their collaborative contributions as we worked closer together to advocate on big items for the interests and welfare of strata stakeholders across Australia and New Zealand.

We acknowledge our newly appointed region Presidents with Alan Ferre for Vic, Andrew Chambers for WA, Michael Haines for SA/NT, Anita Reinecke for NZ, and Joshua Jones for Tas.

We look forward to working collectively on some of the most salient issues and priorities for those connected to our ever-growing sector.

Advocacy

SCA has positioned itself on important stakeholder groups and has built relationships with key government and ministerial representatives, as well as industry and consumer groups in the areas our members care about the most.

As the peak body for strata, SCA is in an excellent position in 2024 to continue undertaking proactive activities with government and the media in all jurisdictions. SCA is constantly advocating for evolution and reform to existing strata and related property legislation, and when these processes are undertaken, SCA is the first port of call for knowledge and leadership. Almost every jurisdiction has just concluded, enacted, or is currently undertaking strata legislation reform.

SCA has led the way for the industry in the strata insurance space, releasing the industry first Strata Insurance Disclosure Best Practice Guidelines in December. Their implementation through 2024 will be an incredible achievement and asset for strata managers and consumers.

Growing the recognition of our quickly expanding industry is critical, and in the first days of 2024 we were notified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) that, following years of lobbying, consultation, and submissions by SCA, the occupation title ‘Strata Manager’ will now be included in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). This will allow for official data collection, improve our ability to advocate for the sector and qualify for grants, skilled migration, and other federal and state government programs.

We see our role, in 2024 and beyond, as having a fundamental responsibility to take strata stakeholders with us on the journey as we provide guidance, support, and resources to navigate the complex landscape of strata management, and will continue to cater for our diverse membership by creating valuable tools such as standardised guidelines, professional standards, and ongoing training programs.

Education

Significant progress has been made on the SCA RTO Project including the appointment of Theresa Boylan as National Education Development Manager. Leveraging her experience as the former SCA (WA) Education Manager and background working in the VET Sector and Project Management, Theresa is ideally suited to lead SCA’s RTO development.

Since assuming her role in July 2023, Theresa has been shaping the RTO’s Training and Assessment Strategy, while establishing the Quality Assessment System processes and procedures. In addition to this, a Knowledge Resource Advisory Network comprising of experienced strata specialists has been established to provide strong industry input and ongoing support to the RTO program.

To build the RTO’s Trainer and Assessor resource base, Content Development Specialists have been recruited to develop training materials and assessment tools for Cert IV in Strata Community Management and Diploma of Property (Agency Management). Additional Trainers and Assessors are needed, and SCA encourages interested members holding a current Cert IV TAE or those requiring an upgrade to get in touch.

The RTO aims to submit its accreditation application to the Australian Skills Qualifications Authority by the end of March, with plans to commence classes towards the end of 2024. SCA looks forward to the continued growth and success of its education initiatives under Theresa’s leadership.

Looking Ahead

We are incredibly excited about the upcoming Australia and New Zealand Conference in Sydney, from 3–5 July, where our theme will provide value to both our strata management and strata service firms to elevate customer excellence to provide strategies for success.

In today’s competitive landscape, all our members play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional customer experiences to residents and property owners. The program will offer a comprehensive exploration of customer excellence, providing actionable insights and strategies to enhance service delivery and drive positive outcomes for clients. By understanding customer needs, leveraging empathy, embracing technology, and mastering conflict resolution, together we can elevate service standards and establish yourselves as trusted industry partners.

With welcome cocktails on a super yacht, a Mexican themed fiesta, and finishing with our SCA Australasia Awards whereby we look forward to recognising and celebrating the achievements of those across all our regions.

It’s shaping up to be SCA’s best conference yet, and we can’t wait to see you there in July.

ALISHA FISHER, AUSTRALASIA CEO

CHRIS DUGGAN, AUSTRALASIA PRESIDENT