Building a Vibrant and Sustainable
Future for Australian Strata

Strata Futures

The strata sector is tasked with overseeing an ever-increasing proportion of one of the most basic of human needs - shelter. A vibrant and sustainable strata sector is necessary for the Australian population.

Following media scrutiny in 2024, stakeholders across the strata sector were engaged through a series of interviews to identify operational issues and areas for improvement. Key themes emerged, including the need for better management of existing stock, enhanced regulation, sustainability initiatives, and improved governance and integrity. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of education and awareness for lot owners regarding their rights and responsibilities within strata schemes.

A roundtable was then organised with over 60 leaders from throughout the sector to discuss challenges and ideate pathways to resolve the current and emerging issues. The inputs from the stakeholder engagement and the roundtable have been distilled into 64 recommendations aimed at elevating standards, processes and reputation of the strata sector. These 64 recommendations are categorised in to six key pillars.

Six Pillars.

Education and empowerment.

Research is required to categorise stakeholder groups, determine relevant information for stakeholders, and identify appropriate mechanisms, modes of delivery and points of intervention to reach the right people with the right information at the appropriate time.
Professional standards.

Establishing national professional standards requires sector collaboration, education development, government approval, and regulatory enforcement. Research and benchmarking is needed to assess and compare existing licensing, training, and compare qualifications with best practices.
Regulation and policy.

Regulation and policy should focus on an effective, viable and sustainable sector for a growing portion of Australian housing. There are opportunities to proactively address emerging and underlying issues rather than exclusively focusing on complaints and enquiries.
Data and digitisation.

Developing a tech and data strategy, including a taxonomy for strata with a key set of definitions and reporting standards will be essential. Digitisation is about improving efficiency, transparency, and the overall experience for lot owners, as well as optimising the value the sector can provide.
Sustainability.

Expertise within strata communities and more broadly will need to be fostered to drive change from within. Preparatory steps should be taken to understand the capabilities the sector will need to develop and understand how sustainability features and adaptations will impact on the strata community.
Advocacy.

A peak body to advocate for the sector as is essential. Advocacy for lot owners is also an essential element of a dynamic and thriving strata sector. This approach will greatly assist in an era of rapid change and increasing scrutiny.