For owners on their strata committee, NSW Fair Trading has announced that mandatory training for members will begin on 1 October 2026. The strata training is part of the broader package of strata law reforms rolled out in NSW in recent years. If you want a full recap of those reforms, this webinar is a good place to start.
What does the training involve?
The course is free, online and self-paced. The training is hosted on the Strata Hub and takes about an hour to complete. The content covers core strata information:
- your legal obligations as a committee member,
- which records you need to keep,
- and what to do when an issue needs to go beyond the committee.
From 1 October, anyone appointed to a NSW strata committee must complete the course within three months of their appointment.
Who put it together?
NSW Fair Trading developed the course alongside the Owners Corporation Network (OCN). OCN brought real-world committee experience to the table, which should make the content very practical and less like a fact sheet.
What happens if a member doesn’t complete the committee training?
According to NSW Fair Trading, a committee member who doesn’t complete the training will automatically cease to be a member of the committee. It’s not a fine or a warning. You lose your seat on the committee. NSW Fair Trading will publish guidance on this process before 1 October.
Still to come
NSW Fair Trading has confirmed that further guidance will be published before 1 October covering exemptions, record keeping, and specific information for committee secretaries and strata managing agents. We don’t yet know what the exemptions apply to or who keeps completion records. We’ll update you with more information as soon as it is available.
Is this a one-off?
No. NSW Fair Trading has been upfront that this is just the beginning. New training modules will be added each year, with topics chosen based on what committees are finding difficult. Repairs and maintenance is already confirmed for year two, a topic that generates more than its fair share of disputes in strata. If you’re dealing with a repairs issue right now, this webinar on water leaks, NCAT and common property is worth a watch.
For the latest official information, visit the NSW Fair Trading strata committee training page. Lookupstrata will continue to keep you updated as guidance is released. Subscribe to Lookupstrata so you don’t miss it.
This post appears in Strata News #807.
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