VIC: Building Better Strata Committees

This article discusses strategies for building stronger, more effective strata committees in Victoria, highlighting common challenges, practical solutions, and the importance of transparency and collaboration.

Successful strata committees sit at the heart of thriving communities, but keeping them effective is rarely simple. At last week’s LookUpStrata webinar, Alex McCormick (SOCM) unpacked the reality of committee life in Victoria — from managing finances and property upkeep to handling interpersonal dynamics and growing expectations from neighbours.

The session was both practical and thought-provoking. Alex highlighted the challenges committees face, shared strategies for strengthening collaboration, and offered a candid look at where committees often fall short. His message was clear: committees that work together with transparency and respect are far more likely to succeed — and far less likely to face costly disputes.

VIC: Building better strata committees – overcoming challenges and fostering collaboration | Alex McCormick, SOCM – September 2025

What makes a strong committee?

Alex began by emphasising that a high-functioning committee is not defined by avoiding conflict altogether, but by how it manages disagreements. Tension is inevitable in any group of people with different perspectives. The difference between success and dysfunction lies in whether members can focus on issues rather than personalities, and whether decisions are made with the broader community in mind.

He reminded attendees that committee service is not about personal agendas. Instead, it is about upholding the collective responsibility to protect and grow the value of the property.

Key challenges identified

Drawing on both his experience and the webinar slides, Alex highlighted recurring pressure points for committees:

• Unclear roles and responsibilities. Committees stumble when members aren’t sure of their duties or stray into areas better handled by managers or specialists.
• Decision-making bottlenecks. Delays arise from chasing consensus on everything, or from uncertainty about the committee’s authority.
• Interpersonal friction. Old disputes, personality clashes and mismatched communication styles quickly derail productivity.
• Integrating new members. Without onboarding or orientation, new members risk being sidelined and ineffective.

Alex’s unique perspectives

What stood out was Alex’s balanced approach. He acknowledged that conflict, disagreement and even mistakes are part of committee life. Rather than viewing these as failures, committees should treat them as opportunities to learn and reset.

Another distinctive point was his focus on shared understanding. Committees that invest time to define expectations, document decisions and explain the “why” behind choices tend to build trust faster — not just among themselves but with the wider ownership base. This, in turn, reduces the mistrust that often fuels disputes.

Practical action points for committees

Alex offered several takeaways that committee members can begin working on straight away:

• Define roles and responsibilities at the start of each committee term and review them regularly.
• Onboard new members with a simple induction covering rules, finances and current priorities.
• Improve meeting culture by centring respectful dialogue, discouraging personal attacks and keeping discussions issue-focused.
• Streamline decisions by delegating small matters appropriately and ensuring urgent items aren’t left to drift.
• Communicate transparently — record decisions and reasons, and keep owners informed to build trust.

These actions may sound simple, but Alex stressed that consistent application is what transforms committee culture over time.

Why this matters

Poorly functioning committees don’t just create frustration; they can lead to serious financial and legal consequences. Missed maintenance, unresolved disputes or opaque decision-making can harm property values and erode community trust. Conversely, committees that take their responsibilities seriously and commit to respectful, transparent processes see smoother management, stronger relationships and better long-term outcomes for all owners.

Watch the full recording

Alex McCormick’s session was packed with insights and practical advice. This recap only scratches the surface. If you attended, it’s worth revisiting the video to reinforce the key points. If you missed it, the recording is a must-watch for anyone serving on — or working with — a strata committee.

Link to presentation: VIC: Building Better Strata Committees

Alex McCormick
SOCM
[email protected]
P: 03 9495 0005

This post appears in Strata News #763.

Have a question or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.

Read next:

• VIC: Owners Corporations Blog- Voting at Meetings- Ordinary Resolutions
• VIC: Q&A Can an owners corporation revoke a resolution?
• VIC: Q&A Is the contract between the OC and building manager sufficient delegation for risk transfer?

Visit our Strata Committee Concerns OR Strata Title Information Victoria

Looking for strata information concerning your state? For state-specific strata information, take a look here.

After a free PDF of this article? Log into your existing LookUpStrata Account to download the printable file. Not a member? Simple – join for free on our Registration page.