The long-awaited and much-delayed compulsory training for strata committee members will not now be in operation until later this year.

According to the Fair Trading Property Matters newsletter, from late 2026, strata committee members elected at their annual general meeting (AGM) will need to complete mandatory training. This is already in strata law – it just hasn’t been activated yet.

‘These new requirements aim to ensure committees have the skills and confidence to manage their strata scheme effectively,’ says the newsletter, which has finally given us a glimpse of what it will involve.

The training will be in two parts. Firstly, there will be a free one-hour online module on the nsw.gov.au/strata website, which committee members will need to complete within three months of being appointed at their AGM.

The committee members will then be required to undertake a second one-hour training session delivered by approved training providers, to be completed before the next AGM. 

“Together, these sessions give committee members the essential knowledge and skills they need to meet their legal obligations and manage day-to-day running of their strata complex,” the newsletter says. 

So who are these “approved training providers”?  One of them, at least, will be the Owners Corporation Network (OCN), whose managing Director and Secretary David Glover is designing the mandatory modules.

Formerly a hand-knitted organisation set up 20 years ago by angry and anxious apartment owners (including one in this very apartment) OCN is now a very slick and corporate-looking outfit, judging by their website.

“We’re pleased to report that OCN is working alongside NSW Fair Trading to develop the content for new mandatory committee training which will be hosted on the nsw.gov.au website,” Mr Glover told Flat Chat.

“We’re working hard to ensure the training is practical and focused on the things that really matter for a new committee member. We look forward to the release of the finished training later in the year.”

Other contributors are rumoured to include our good friend Amanda Farmer of yourstrataproperty.com.au and our long-time sponsors Lannock strata finance

All good stuff, but will the training help strata chairs to curb their more despotic tendencies, as well as explaining what a conflict of interest really is?

The modern version of proxy farming – telling owners to give their proxies to committee members – must be up for discussion. And maybe a suggestion that you shouldn’t stand for election if you’re never going to turn up for meetings.

More details, including how to access the training, will be provided closer to the start date, says the newsletter.  But considering this was all supposed to be in place before last Christmas, don’t hold your breath waiting.