Mandatory Strata Committee Training in NSW: What You Need to Know

Mandatory strata committee training in NSW is coming, and it will change how owners corporations across the state manage volunteer governance. Amendments to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) passed in 2025 introduced a requirement that every person serving on a strata committee must complete prescribed training or face automatic removal from their position. For buyers reviewing strata reports and for owners considering committee service, understanding the timeline, scope, and practical implications of this reform matters.

NSW is home to over one million strata and community title lots across more than 91,000 schemes, with 95 percent of those schemes being residential, according to data from SCA NSW citing UNSW City Futures. With apartment households making up 20 percent of all occupied private dwellings in the state, the quality of strata governance affects a significant share of property owners and buyers. The 2022 Australasian Strata Insights Report notes that 51 percent of Australia’s apartment dwellers live in NSW, totalling roughly 2.5 million people. For anyone purchasing into a strata scheme, the competency of the committee has direct implications for how well the building is managed and how transparently finances are handled.

When Does Mandatory Committee Training Start in NSW?

The mandatory training provisions are not yet in force, though the underlying legislation has already been passed. Amendments to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) were assented to on 02/03/2025. Section 37 of the principal Act, as substituted by those amendments, sets out both the general duties of strata committee members and the new training obligations.

The general duties under Section 37(1) commenced on 01/07/2025. However, the specific mandatory training provisions contained in Section 37(2) to (4) have not yet commenced. Industry bodies expect these provisions to take effect later in 2026, with 01/07/2026 widely anticipated as the likely commencement date based on NSW Fair Trading guidance.

Milestone	Date	Status
Amendments assented	02/03/2025	Complete
General duties commence (Section 37(1))	01/07/2025	In force
Mandatory training expected commencement	Likely 01/07/2026	Pending regulations
Training details and providers announced	To be confirmed	Awaiting NSW Government release

For buyers and owners, this means there is a window to prepare, but no immediate compliance obligation exists as of early 2026.

Who Must Complete the Training?

Every member of a strata committee must complete the training. Section 37(2) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) states: “Each member of a strata committee of an owners corporation must complete the training prescribed by the regulations.”

This obligation applies to all committee members, not only office bearers such as the chairperson, secretary, or treasurer. It also applies equally to existing members and any person newly appointed to the committee after the provisions commence.

Given that a large number of committee members serve as volunteers across the state, the training requirement has the potential to affect governance in many schemes. Anyone thinking about joining their committee in the next 12 months may wish to plan for this obligation, particularly if they anticipate being nominated at an annual general meeting after the provisions take effect.

What Happens If a Committee Member Doesn’t Complete the Training?

The consequence of non-completion is automatic removal from the committee, not a fine. Section 37(3) provides that a member who fails to complete the required training ceases to be a member of the strata committee. There is no monetary penalty attached to the failure. The sole consequence is loss of position.

Importantly, Section 38 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) protects the validity of past decisions despite vacancies or defects. This means decisions made by the committee while an untrained member was participating remain legally valid, even if that member is later removed for non-compliance. The provision protects the owners corporation from having its past decisions invalidated due to later-discovered compliance gaps.

For buyers, this is a reassuring safeguard. A building’s history of committee resolutions — including approvals for maintenance budgets or special levy resolutions — does not suddenly become void simply because a committee member missed a training deadline. It also means owners can have confidence that past financial commitments and contractor appointments will remain enforceable.

What Will the Training Cover and Who Will Provide It?

The exact content, format, duration, and list of approved providers are not yet finalised because the supporting regulations have not been published. However, the structure is expected to involve two components: a free online module, and additional training delivered by approved providers.

Because the regulations remain pending, committees and managers should monitor announcements from NSW Fair Trading. Anyone considering joining a strata committee in the near future may wish to complete training voluntarily once it becomes available, both to demonstrate readiness and to avoid scrambling to meet a deadline while also managing building affairs.

Why Does This Matter for Buyers and Owners?

Better-trained committees tend to make more informed decisions about building maintenance, financial planning, and dispute resolution. With 44 percent of NSW strata and community title schemes registered since 2000, many buildings are now entering phases where capital works planning, compliance obligations, and ageing infrastructure management are becoming more complex. A committee that understands its duties can reduce the risk of delayed maintenance, poorly managed funds, or disputes that escalate to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

For buyers reviewing strata reports, the training requirement adds a new dimension to assessing governance quality. From mid-2026 onwards, a well-run scheme’s records may include evidence that committee members have satisfied their training obligations. Conversely, a scheme with multiple untrained members who have been automatically removed could face operational disruptions, including difficulty achieving a quorum at meetings. That disruption can slow down decisions about urgent repairs or insurance claims.

Understanding this context helps buyers interpret minutes and notices with greater clarity. It also explains why some schemes may experience temporary committee vacancies or why a strata manager’s administrative role may expand to cover gaps in volunteer capacity.

What Are the Concerns from Industry Bodies?

Strata Community Australia (NSW), the state’s peak body for strata professionals, supports the intent of the reform but has raised several practical concerns. Their feedback highlights both the value of education and the risks of implementation.

The primary concerns centre on administrative burden, volunteer fatigue, governance continuity, and regional equity. SCA NSW notes that many committee members are volunteers who already devote significant unpaid time to their buildings. Adding compulsory training may deter people from nominating in the first place. If too few trained members remain to form a quorum, the scheme could face governance paralysis until a general meeting can elect replacements, which can delay decisions on everything from leaking roofs to overdue fire safety upgrades.

Accessibility for regional and rural members is another issue. Owners in remote areas may have fewer approved training providers nearby and limited flexibility to attend in-person sessions. SCA NSW has recommended approaches that balance competence with volunteer sustainability.

These concerns do not invalidate the reform, but they illustrate the tension between raising governance standards and preserving the volunteer model that underpins most strata committees. Buyers may wish to view training compliance as one signal among many when evaluating how proactively a scheme is managed.

What Should Buyers Look for in Strata Reports From Mid-2026?

Once the training provisions are active, buyers reviewing strata reports should pay attention to new indicators of governance health. These items will appear in meeting minutes, correspondence, and secretary notices.

Look for confirmation that each committee member has completed the required training. Also check whether any members have failed to complete training and been automatically removed, and whether the committee retained sufficient members to function. Be alert for minutes discussing an inability to form a quorum, as this may signal temporary governance difficulties that could affect upcoming decisions. Finally, confirm that past committee decisions remain properly recorded and actioned, since Section 38 protects the validity of acts taken before a vacancy arose.

These checks fit naturally into a broader due diligence process that also examines fund balances, pending maintenance, and common dispute patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the mandatory training requirement active now?

No. The legislation has passed and the general duties of committee members commenced on 01/07/2025, but the specific mandatory training provisions under Section 37(2) to (4) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) are not yet in force. They are expected to commence later in 2026, most likely on 01/07/2026.

Does every committee member have to complete the training, or just office bearers?

Every committee member must complete the training. Section 37(2) applies to “each member of a strata committee,” not only the chairperson, secretary, or treasurer.

What happens if a member refuses or forgets to do the training?

The member automatically ceases to be on the strata committee. There is no monetary fine, but the member loses their position. Past decisions made while the member was serving remain valid under Section 38.

Will the training be free?

A free online foundational module is expected to be available. There may also be additional training from approved providers, and it is not yet confirmed whether those additional components will incur a cost.

Can a buyers’ agent or conveyancer verify training compliance on my behalf?

Yes. Once the provisions are active, training compliance should be reflected in the scheme’s records. Buyers’ agents and conveyancers can review these documents as part of standard pre-purchase due diligence.

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