If you sit on a strata committee in New South Wales, there’s a new item for your to-do list. NSW strata committee mandatory training began on 1 October 2026, and most committee members now need to complete a short online course soon after they’re appointed. The good news is that it’s free, takes about an hour, and can be completed whenever suits you. Here’s a plain-English guide to what’s changed and how to stay on track.
What is the new strata committee training requirement?
From 1 October 2026, anyone newly appointed or reappointed to a NSW strata committee must complete a free online course run by NSW Fair Trading. The course can be accessed through Strata Hub, the NSW Government’s online strata portal.
The course is self-paced and takes around one hour. It must be completed within three months of your appointment to the committee. When you finish, NSW Fair Trading issues you with a Certificate of Completion.
Once you’ve completed this introductory course, you won’t need to repeat it in later years. NSW Fair Trading has said it will publish details of further training in 2027, so keep an eye on the official page for updates.
Why does this matter for your strata scheme?
Committee members make decisions that affect people’s homes, money and everyday lives. The training is designed to help members understand their legal duties, handle common issues such as repairs, maintenance and disputes with more confidence, and manage risk so the scheme stays financially healthy.
The practical impact is significant: a committee member who misses the deadline is automatically removed from the committee. That can leave a committee short of members, or without a secretary, chairperson or treasurer, at an inconvenient time.
Who does the strata committee training apply to?
The requirement applies to committee members appointed on or after 1 October 2026, whether they are:
- joining a committee for the first time;
- returning to a committee; or
- filling a vacancy for more than three months.
If you serve on more than one committee, you only need to complete the course once. If you were appointed before 1 October 2026, you don’t need to do the training until your next appointment, although you’re welcome to complete it earlier.
Exemptions apply to committee members in two-lot schemes, members of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers, NSW strata managing agents, and people filling a casual vacancy for less than three months. Exempt members should give evidence of their exemption to the committee secretary.
The training also doesn’t apply to association committees in community land schemes.
Who’s responsible?
NSW Fair Trading delivers the course, but it’s up to each strata scheme to monitor its own committee’s compliance. Secretaries play a key support role, and strata managers can help if the owners corporation asks them to.
Anyone can take the course, including owners and residents who are simply curious about how strata works.
What do committee members need to do, and by when?
Note your appointment date. Your three-month window starts from the day you’re appointed. For example, someone appointed on 1 October 2026 must finish by 1 January 2027.
Complete the course on Strata Hub. Check the official NSW Fair Trading page for the current registration and access steps.
Share your certificate. It’s recommended that you give a copy of your Certificate of Completion to the committee secretary within the three-month period.
NSW Fair Trading also recommends that secretaries mention the training in AGM notices, collect certificates and keep copies for at least a year, send reminders at least a month before training is due, and check whether any members need help registering. These tasks are good practice rather than a legal requirement, and Fair Trading provides template notices on its website.
What happens if the training isn’t completed?
If a committee member doesn’t complete the training within three months, they automatically stop being a committee member. This happens under the strata laws; it isn’t a committee decision.
The committee should then stop that person taking part in decisions, check that it still has enough members, and appoint a replacement and update the strata roll if needed. A committee must have at least one member, or at least three members for schemes with more than 100 lots.
If the person was an office-bearer, a new one should be appointed. Strata Hub records must be updated within 28 days for a secretary or chairperson.
How Smarter Communities can help
We want this to be easy, and every committee is different, so you can choose the level of support that suits you.
Committee self-management
Committee members complete the training on their own schedule and keep track of completion themselves. If questions come up about the course or the requirements, simply give us a call. Many committees prefer this straightforward approach, and it works very well.
Compliance Support Service
If your committee would like help with the administration, your Relationship Manager can monitor training completion, coordinate reminders and follow up on anything outstanding. As this is additional administration outside the standard management service, it’s charged at the applicable rates in your scheme’s fee schedule. Your Relationship Manager will explain what’s involved before anything is arranged.
Facilitated Committee Information Session
Some committees like to work through changes together. Your Relationship Manager can run a dedicated meeting or information session where members complete the mandatory training together, talk through common questions, and discuss committee responsibilities and compliance considerations. The applicable meeting rate is discussed with the committee beforehand, so everyone is clear on the arrangement.
Strata committee training FAQ
Is the NSW strata committee training free?
Yes. The course is free, online and self-paced, taking about one hour.
I was on the committee before 1 October 2026. Do I need to do it now?
Not yet. You’ll need to complete it when you’re next appointed, though you can choose to do it sooner.
Do I need to do the training every year?
Once you’ve completed the introductory course, you don’t need to repeat it. NSW Fair Trading plans to share details of additional training in 2027.
I’m on two strata committees. Do I complete it twice?
No. Completing it once covers all committees you serve on.
Where do I find the course?
It’s accessed via Strata Hub. Check the official NSW Fair Trading strata committee training page for the latest access steps.
Not sure which option is right for your committee? Have a chat with your Relationship Manager. They’ll walk you through the choices and help you settle on the approach that fits your scheme best.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. For full details, refer to the official source.
Source: NSW Fair Trading, “Strata committee training | NSW Government”, last updated 23 September 2026.
The information provided is a general guide only and is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. The company disclaims all responsibility and liability for any expenses, losses, damages, and costs which might be incurred as a result of the information provided by the company.
