WA’s strata management educational model is changing
A new and improved model for strata management educational qualifications has been proposed for WA following extensive industry consultation.
The changes expand educational qualifications and introduce experience requirements for professional strata managers, as well as create new career pathways and redefine some roles and responsibilities to better meet industry needs. They also resolve the challenging impact that national changes to the Certificate IV in Strata Community Management had on WA’s industry.
WA strata owners and tenants will benefit from the uplift in professional knowledge and experience within our state’s strata management industry.
Implementing these changes involves amending WA’s strata titles regulations: the Strata Titles (General) Regulations 2019 (STGR).
The amendments to the STGR will take effect across two phases.
Phase 1
- Singular amendment to provide a six-month extension to the transitional period (from 1 May 2024 and 1 November 2024) for strata managers to comply with WA’s education qualifications.
- The extension of the transitional period will provide time to complete Phase 2.
- Commencement timing | 1 May 2024.
Phase 2
- Expected to include all amendments implementing the new educational model, pending feedback from an upcoming public consultation. The detail of each amendment is below.
- A further extension of the transitional period allowing strata managers an additional two-year period to comply after the new educational model.
- Commencement timing | To be advised by Landgate during an upcoming public consultation.
Learn more
Landgate is expecting to share a public consultation draft of the ‘phase 2 amendments’ to the STGR for feedback in the second quarter of 2024.
We will update WA’s strata management industry and other interested parties on the specific timing of this public consultation as soon as a finalised draft is available to Landgate.
WA’s new strata management educational model:
- Addresses broad feedback that the current educational model doesn’t best reflect existing industry structures or include experience requirements for strata managers.
- Introduces a valuable career pathway role into the industry through the newly created role of an assistant strata community manager.
- Resolves compliance issues that arose following national changes to the Certificate IV in Strata Community Management in 2021.
Learn more via the ‘Proposed amendments’ section of this web page.
Landgate has been in close consultation with WA’s strata management industry since early 2022 to shape these amendments and create a better-fit educational model.
We are particularly appreciative of the considerable and ongoing contributions made by both the Strata Community Association of WA (SCA (WA)) and REIWA.
“Strata Community Association WA (SCA (WA)) proudly supports Landgate in the upcoming regulation amendments to the strata manager educational model and increasing the professionalism of the strata industry. We appreciate the opportunity to assist in shaping these amendments, and the positive outcome from collaborative industry consultation”.
- Strata Community Association WA (SCA (WA)).
“REIWA believes it is essential that industry opinion is sought when changes affecting industry are under review. We have been actively involved in the consultation process for the regulation amendments to the strata education model and strongly support the changes. The education requirements have been tailored to industry practice and provide clear direction for industry in terms of training requirements”.
- REIWA.
Proposed amendments
A full Certificate IV in Strata Community Management (Certificate IV) will become the standard qualification for everyone working in a professional strata manager role.
Why? To expand professional qualifications and standards across WA’s strata management industry.
Timing: By 30 April 2026. Allowing strata managers a two-year transitional period to comply after the Phase 1 amendment to the STGR takes effect on 1 May 2024.
Key points:
- Under the new model, the baseline educational qualification requirements for individuals engaged by a strata management business to manage strata schemes will be the full Certificate IV in Strata Community Management.
- This requirement will apply to both principals of the business and the newly defined role of a strata community manager (as defined through amendment 5 below).
- Currently, a full Certificate IV is only legislatively required to be held by the principal of the business.
- By increasing the scope of those working as strata managers who require higher qualifications, an uplift in industry-wide standards is expected that will ultimately benefit strata owners and tenants.
- Note: Principals of the business will also be able to complete the Diploma of Property (Agency Management - Strata) and comply with the STGR.
Specific unit numbers from the Certificate IV will be removed and replaced by a specific number of core and elective units for different strata management roles.
Why? To deliver more flexible Certificate IV unit options for those who aren’t required to complete a full Certificate IV but only a select number of units (a qualified person). As well as future-proofing of the STGR against any further national changes to the Certificate IV.
Timing: To be advised during public consultation in the second quarter of 2024.
Key points:
- Under the new model, Certificate IV unit numbers and names have been removed from the STGR and replaced with requirements to complete a specific number of core and elective units.
- This change will provide strata management businesses with more flexibility to determine the educational needs of their employees – that is, for those who aren’t required to complete a full Certificate IV but only a select number of units (a qualified person).
- It will help to ‘future-proof’ the STGR against any future changes made to unit names and numbers within the Certificate IV qualification.
- The importance of needing to make this change became evident following national changes to units within the Certificate IV in Strata Community Management, which made it impossible for some WA strata managers to comply with the current regulations.
Remove the definition and concept of a designated person.
Why? New definitions used in the amended regulations will be easier to understand as they better reflect industry terminology and business structures.
Timing: To be advised during public consultation in the second quarter of 2024.
Key points:
- Under the new model, the definition and concept of a designated person will be removed from the STGR.
- A designated person will be replaced with several different definitions and concepts covering individuals that own strata management businesses or work in the role of a strata manager.
- Designated person is a regulatory term and does not reflect terminology used by the industry. The definition and concept of a designated person will be replaced with new roles and definitions that better reflect industry terminology and business structures.
Introduce a definition for principal of the business.
Why? Making it clearer for strata managers who a principal is and introducing new experience requirements for this role.
Timing: To be advised during public consultation in the second quarter of 2024.
Key points:
- Under the new model, a definition has been added to clarify who can be a principal of the business.
- Currently, the role of a principal of the business is included in the STGR but without a supporting definition.
- This is not ideal as it does not make it clear for strata managers who is a principal and who is responsible for carrying out the functions assigned to the principal.
- Defining ‘principal of the business’ will also make it clear who in a strata management business needs to hold the qualifications required of this position.
- The principal will be defined as an individual who is the owner, a partner, a director, or employee of the business that is the strata manager holding a strata management contract with the strata company and, in the case of a partner, director, or employee is authorised by the strata manager to perform scheme functions without supervision.
- Individuals who are principals will have to meet the prescribed educational qualifications and hold two years’ experience in the strata management industry. The requirement to hold two years’ experience is a new requirement and aimed at improving real world knowledge of the strata management industry in principals.
Introduce a new role and a definition for strata community manager.
Why? To better align terminology within the regulations with industry terminology and making it clearer who needs to meet educational and experience requirements.
Timing: To be advised during public consultation in the second quarter of 2024.
Key points:
- Under the new model, a new role and accompanying definition for strata community manager will be introduced into the STGR.
- This role will, in part, replace the concept of a designated person with a key role (see amendment 3 above) and apply to individuals who are undertaking work as a strata manager.
- The introduction of this role will reduce confusion around who is required to hold an educational qualification by linking the need to hold a qualification to the authorisation of the carrying out of a scheme function under a scheme management contract. That is, someone who meets the definition of a strata community manager will need to hold the educational qualifications.
- A strata community manager will be defined as an individual who is an agent, employee, or contractor of the strata manager and who is authorised by the strata manager and responsible for undertaking scheme functions that the strata manager is authorised to carry out. They carry out these scheme functions with no or minimal supervision or direction from a principal of the business.
- Individuals who are strata community managers will also have to meet the prescribed educational qualifications and hold one year’s experience in the strata management industry. The requirement to hold one year experience is a new requirement and aimed at improving real world knowledge of the strata management industry in strata community managers.
Introduce a new role and a definition for assistant strata community manager.
Why? To introduce a valuable career pathway role for people who want to enter the strata management industry.
Timing: To be advised during public consultation in the second quarter of 2024.
Key points:
- Under the new model, a new role and accompanying definition for assistant strata community manager will be introduced into the STGR.
- This role will provide a valuable career pathway into the strata management industry. It is designed to allow people to work in the industry and gain experience prior to obtaining a full Certificate IV.
- An assistant strata community manager is an individual who is an agent, employee, or contractor of the strata manager and who assists the principal or strata community manager in carrying out their role. They can undertake a scheme function but must do so under the supervision of a principal or a strata community manager.
- Individuals who are assistant strata community managers will not have to meet immediate educational qualifications but will have to obtain a minimum qualification over a prescribed timeframe. There will be no experience requirements for assistant strata community managers as it is aimed at allowing people to develop experience in the strata management industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Allowances will be retained in the Phase 2 amendments to the STGR for qualified people, that is people, who already hold a relevant qualification recognised under Schedule 4, clause 1 of the STGR.
This is to acknowledge that some people working in the strata management industry may hold a qualification different to what is required by the regulations but that equips them with knowledge comparable to the Certificate IV in Strata Community Management.
Qualified people will still only be required to complete a limited number of the units of the Certificate IV but will need to meet experience requirements.