At a Glance
- From 1 October 2026, new and returning strata committee members in NSW must complete an introductory training course within 3 months of being appointed.
- The training is free, online, self-paced and takes about an hour. It is delivered by NSW Fair Trading through Strata Hub, and a Certificate of Completion is issued on finishing.
- A committee member who does not complete the training on time is automatically removed from the committee. There is no fine, but the seat becomes vacant.
- Members appointed before 1 October 2026 don’t need to train until they are next appointed. Two-lot schemes, strata managing agents, members of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers and short casual vacancies (under 3 months) are exempt.
- NSW Fair Trading has flagged additional annual training from 2027, with details to be confirmed.
If you’re searching for what the new strata committee training in NSW involves, here’s the short version: from 1 October 2026, anyone appointed to a strata committee in NSW will need to complete a free, one-hour online course within three months of being appointed. It’s a sensible change, and for most committees it will be a small task rather than a burden.
Most committees we work with are already doing the right thing by their building. Members turn up, ask good questions, and make decisions carefully. The training simply gives everyone a shared foundation for that work, which is helpful when a committee has a mix of long-serving members and people who’ve just stepped up for the first time.
Jamesons can’t deliver the training itself, as it’s run by NSW Fair Trading. What we can do is make sure your committee knows what’s required, when it’s due, and that nobody is caught out by the deadline. That’s part of the compliance support built into our strata management services. This guide covers everything committee members and owners need to know.
Strata committee training at a glance
- Starts: 1 October 2026
- Who: New and returning committee members appointed from that date
- Deadline: Within 3 months of appointment
- Format: Free, online, self-paced, about 1 hour, via Strata Hub
- Proof: Certificate of Completion issued by NSW Fair Trading
- If missed: Automatic removal from the committee (no fine)
- Exempt: Two-lot schemes, strata managing agents, Australian College of Strata Lawyers members, casual vacancies under 3 months
What Is the New Strata Committee Training Requirement in NSW?
From 1 October 2026, strata committee members in NSW must complete an introductory training course within three months of being appointed to the committee. The course is free, online and delivered by NSW Fair Trading, and it takes about an hour to finish. It applies to both first-time and returning members appointed from that date onward.The requirement sits within the wider program of reforms to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 that has been rolling out since July 2025. If you’d like the full picture of what’s changed and when, our guide to the NSW strata law changes in 2026 brings the whole timeline together.
Why Is Strata Committee Training Becoming Mandatory?
A strata committee makes real decisions on behalf of every owner in the building: how money is spent, which repairs go ahead, how insurance is handled, and how disputes are managed. Until now, there’s been no formal requirement for the people making those decisions to have any grounding in what the role involves. That’s not a criticism of committees. Most people join because they care about where they live and want to contribute. But the strata system in NSW is large (well over a million people live in strata), and the responsibilities that come with a committee seat aren’t always obvious from the outside. The training is designed to close that gap. According to NSW Fair Trading, it helps members understand their legal duties and the committee’s governance role, how to approach repairs, maintenance and disputes, and how to manage risk and keep the scheme financially healthy. If you’re newer to the role, our explainer on the role of a strata committee is a good companion read.Who Needs to Complete Strata Committee Training?
The requirement applies to any person appointed to a strata committee in NSW from 1 October 2026, whether they’re joining for the first time or being re-elected. A few groups are exempt:- Committee members of two-lot strata schemes
- Strata managing agents who sit on a committee
- Members of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers
- Anyone filling a casual vacancy that lasts less than three months
What if I’m already on the committee?
If you were appointed before 1 October 2026, you don’t need to do the training until you’re next appointed. For most committees, that means the next AGM. You’re welcome to complete it earlier if you’d like to, and it’s a reasonable way to get ahead of the change.What if I’m re-appointed within the same year?
If you’re appointed to the committee again within the same 12-month period as your first appointment, you get a fresh three months from the new appointment date to complete the training.How Does the Training Work?
The course is delivered online through Strata Hub, the NSW Government’s strata reporting portal. If you haven’t used it before, our guide to Strata Hub explains how it works. In practical terms:- Cost: Free
- Length: About one hour
- Format: Self-paced and online, so it can be done in one sitting or in stages
- Proof: NSW Fair Trading issues a Certificate of Completion when you finish
What Happens If a Committee Member Doesn’t Complete the Training?
This is the part worth paying attention to. If the training isn’t completed within three months of appointment, the member is automatically removed from the committee. This happens even if no formal notice is issued, and NSW Fair Trading has indicated it won’t be taking separate enforcement action, because the removal itself is the consequence. That’s not designed to be punitive. It’s a simple mechanism to make sure everyone sitting on a committee has done the course. But it does mean a committee could lose a member, or several, without anyone intending it, if the deadline slips past unnoticed. A committee that drops below the number of members it needs can find itself unable to make decisions until the position is filled. The good news is that it’s easy to avoid. A one-hour course, done within a three-month window, with a reminder from your strata manager or secretary along the way.What Should the Secretary and Strata Manager Do?
NSW Fair Trading’s guidance sets out a few practical steps for the committee secretary, and in most schemes the strata manager will help carry these out:- Send a reminder to any member who hasn’t completed the training within two months of their appointment
- Collect Certificates of Completion from each member and keep copies with the scheme’s records
- Issue a notice if a member’s training isn’t completed on time, so the vacancy is formally recorded
- Let the remaining committee members know when a position becomes vacant, so it can be filled
What Your Committee Can Do Now
There’s no need to do anything before 1 October 2026, but a little preparation makes the change easier:
- Check your AGM date. If your AGM falls after 1 October 2026, the members elected at that meeting will need to complete the training within three months.
- Make sure committee members are registered on Strata Hub. That’s how NSW Fair Trading will notify people and where the course will live.
- Agree on who tracks completion. In most schemes this will be the secretary, with support from the strata manager.
- Consider doing the course early. Existing members aren’t required to, but it’s an hour well spent and it removes any deadline pressure later.
- Watch for the 2027 update. NSW Fair Trading has said additional annual training will follow the introductory course, with details to come.
How Jamesons Supports Committees Through the Change
We understand that a committee seat is something people take on in their own time, on top of everything else. New requirements can feel like one more thing to keep track of, and we don’t think that should fall entirely on volunteers. For the schemes we manage, we’ll let committees know when the training goes live, remind members ahead of the three-month deadline, help the secretary keep certificates on file, and make sure nobody is removed from a committee simply because a date was missed. It’s the same approach we take to every legislative change: track it, explain it, and handle the detail so the committee can focus on the building.Talk to Jamesons
If Jamesons manages your building, your strata manager will let you know when the training goes live and keep your committee on track, so a quick word with them is all it takes. If your building isn’t managed by Jamesons and you’d like to talk through what the training means for your committee, get in touch with our team.Get in touch with our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does mandatory strata committee training start in NSW?
When does mandatory strata committee training start in NSW?
The requirement applies to strata committee members appointed from 1 October 2026. Members must complete the introductory training within three months of their appointment.
Is the strata committee training free?
Is the strata committee training free?
Yes. The training is delivered by NSW Fair Trading through Strata Hub at no cost. It’s online, self-paced and takes about an hour.
Do existing committee members need to do the training?
Do existing committee members need to do the training?
Not immediately. A member appointed before 1 October 2026 doesn’t need to complete the training until they’re next appointed, although they can choose to do it earlier.
What happens if a committee member doesn't complete the training in time?
What happens if a committee member doesn't complete the training in time?
They’re automatically removed from the committee. NSW Fair Trading has said it won’t take separate action against the member, as removal is the consequence. The vacancy can then be filled in the usual way.
Who is exempt from strata committee training?
Who is exempt from strata committee training?
Members of two-lot schemes, strata managing agents, members of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers, and anyone filling a casual vacancy of less than three months.
How do we prove a committee member has completed the training?
How do we prove a committee member has completed the training?
NSW Fair Trading issues a Certificate of Completion. The committee secretary should collect a copy from each member and keep it with the scheme’s records.
Will committee members need to do the training every year?
Will committee members need to do the training every year?
NSW Fair Trading has indicated that additional training will be available each year after the introductory course, with details of the ongoing requirements to be published in 2027.
Can Jamesons provide the training?
Can Jamesons provide the training?
No. The training is delivered only by NSW Fair Trading. Jamesons helps by keeping committees informed, reminding members of deadlines and supporting the secretary with record-keeping.
