President and CEO Report – First Edition 2025

The strata industry stands at a pivotal moment. The past year has been one of challenge and transformation, laying the groundwork for an ambitious agenda for 2025 and beyond. Strata professionals have never been more critical to the development of communities and driving sustainable living across Australia, and as your industry body, SCA is committed to driving forward the changes needed to support and elevate the profession.

SCA’s vision for 2025 is clear: strengthening trust in the industry; advocating for meaningful reforms; and enhancing professional standards. Through rigorous research, strategic advocacy, and targeted professional development, we are setting the course for a sustainable and resilient strata sector. The work ahead is challenging, but with collaboration and a shared commitment to progress, we are confident in the industry’s ability to grow, evolve, and thrive.

It’s important to reflect on what has been recently lost in the noise and conversation about the strata industry. The vast majority of strata professionals work hard, have great practice, and are top professionals who voluntarily spend hundreds of hours in the sector to drive improvements.

To pave the path forward, late last year we coordinated and held a National Future Strata Summit to add critical analysis to our ongoing, intensive member engagement efforts and to critically analyse the issues facing the sector over the next five years and lay the framework for change.

There was overwhelming agreement that building trust and sustainable business practices within the industry, exercising influence where decisions are made that impact strata and raising awareness of strata management and the sector were vitally important.

SCA is action driven, and in 2024 we began allocating additional resources to projects and activities that will improve professionalism and bolster strata manager reputation and trust through 2025 and beyond.

Many of those projects will come to fruition in the first half of 2025.

In addition to the 2024 appointment of new Complaints Chair and revamping the complaints process and resourcing, in 2025 we’re developing a new code of ethics and gathering expert advice on guidance for managing conflicts of interest.

Strata Insights 2024 — SCA’s industry state of play report, published every two years — has just been released. This comprehensive report provides exclusive statistics and insights on the number of people living in strata, strata managers employed, the insurable value of buildings, and more. You can view the full article on pages 20-24.

Celebrating our industry through a nationwide marketing campaign, telling positive stories about the sector and our members, building reputation and trust in the industry. Whilst we understand the difficulty of the work strata managers do and the critical importance to their communities, this understanding is something that has been missing from public discussion for too long.

SCA’s Thrive at Work program has been attempting to address these challenges since 2021, and we will be giving renewed attention to this initiative.

We’ll be commencing the delivery of qualifications through the new SCA Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in 2025. The RTO will bolster the sector’s professionalism by creating a one-stop shop for strata learning and accreditation that the industry Australia-wide has long desired.

We’re on the front foot and the front lines of policymaking in Australia. After recording huge advocacy wins at the 2024 elections in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland, we’re taking strong policy platforms to the Western Australian and federal elections at the start of this year.

In each state and territory, as well as nationally, we’re at the table when the most pressing issues are being discussed, building relationships with elected officials and government agencies, sitting on advisory councils and stakeholder roundtables, working with consumer and industry groups and building public awareness.

What we will be seeking throughout 2025 from government, regulators, industry and consumers alike is collaboration and support for the strata sector, to drive the industry forward positively in line with SCA’s vision.

The year ahead is about action, unity, recognition, collaboration, and ensuring that strata professionals receive the recognition and support they deserve. SCA will continue to lead, advocate, and innovate delivering key projects, influencing policy, and shaping a more professional and trusted industry.

We invite government, regulators, industry, and consumers to join us in advancing strata for the benefit of all. 2025 is a pivotal year, and together, we can build a stronger, more resilient future for the strata sector.

Together, we are stepping into a future where alignment across our industry brings strength, where shared goals drive collective success, and where collaboration unites us in purpose. The work ahead will require focus and commitment, but by moving forward as one, we can create a more connected, resilient, and professional sector that delivers real impact.

ALISHA FISHER, AUSTRALASIA CEO 

JOSHUA BALDWIN, AUSTRALASIA PRESIDENT