Who must complete NSW strata committee training from 1 October 2026?
A practical five-minute guide to appointments, exemptions, the two-month reminder, three-month deadline, certificates and non-completion.
A new or returning strata committee member appointed from 1 October 2026 generally has three months from appointment to complete the free NSW Fair Trading training. Check the appointment date and exemptions first. If required training is not completed on time, the person automatically stops being a committee member.
Think before you act.
1. Confirm the appointment
Record the appointment or reappointment date and confirm that this is a strata committee. The requirement does not apply to association committees in community land schemes.
2. Check the exemptions
The requirement does not apply to committee members in two-lot strata schemes, Australian College of Strata Lawyers members, strata managing agents or a person filling a casual vacancy for less than three months. Obtain evidence where an exemption is relied upon.
3. Set the two dates
Calculate a reminder date no later than two months after appointment and the completion deadline three months after appointment. Record both dates in a controlled register.
4. Collect the certificate
Ask the member to provide their NSW Fair Trading Certificate of Completion within the training period. The secretary is encouraged to keep it for at least one year.
5. Act on non-completion
If training is not completed by the deadline, the person automatically ceases to be a committee member. Prevent future participation, issue the recommended failure notice, notify the committee and check whether a general meeting is needed to fill the vacancy.
Watch for
- Treating the requirement as applying to every committee without checking exemptions
- Using the AGM date instead of the member's actual appointment date
- Assuming a reminder or failure notice creates the legal consequence
- Allowing an overdue former member to continue voting
Escalate when
- The appointment or reappointment date is uncertain
- Exemption evidence is incomplete
- The committee may fall below its required minimum membership
- A vacancy must be filled or previous decisions are disputed
Source-controlled learning
Reviewed against the following current official material on 28 August 2026. Open the source to check the latest version before relying on it.
Knowing the check is useful. Practising the judgement is better.
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