Illawarra Strata Management

29/04/2026

Last week, on 22 April, I was honoured to receive the Essay Award at the Strata Community Association Australasia Awards.

I wrote “The Evolution of a Strata Manager” from the heart — reflecting on where I started, how much this profession has changed, and what it’s become today.

It wasn’t polished or perfect… just real.

A huge congratulations to the other finalists in the Essay category — the standard was incredible, and I feel very lucky to be in that company. And to all the winners across the other categories, what an amazing showcase of talent in our industry 👏

I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a profession that continues to evolve, challenge us, and create so much opportunity — and even more grateful for the people I get to share that journey with every day.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of it 💛

🌟Congratulations🌟
𝗦𝗖𝗔 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮 - 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Congratulations to Tracey Payne Illawarra Strata Management for being awarded the SCA Australasia – Essay Award.

The essay awards was presented by Michelle Cummins.

05/01/2026

Being a Secretary of an Owners Corporation can be a tough gig — meetings, motions, emails, compliance, legislation… and a whole lot of heart.

Often misunderstood, sometimes thankless, but so rewarding when good governance and community come together.

Today we celebrate strata legend Bryan Kelly, on his retirement from the Secretary role at one of the Illawarra’s largest and oldest Owners Corporations, Creston Apartments.

Bryan, thank you for your unwavering service and leadership — and to your Strata Committee, thank you for the support, collaboration and trust you’ve shown Bryan along the way. Strong office holders don’t stand alone, and your teamwork has made a lasting difference.

👏 Congratulations to all — and especially to Bryan on a well-earned change within the committee.

05/01/2026

Congratulations Jac Laneyrie racing, we're certainly proud of your efforts during Victorian Speed Week.
Keep up the good work 🏎️

🏁VICTORIAN SPEEDWEEK COMPLETE🏁

5 nights of racing wrapped up in our 8 days down south for the annual speedweek competing against 50 of Australia’s best.

A main results.

Night 1:🥈
Night 2:🥉
Night 3: 4️⃣
Night 4: 4️⃣

After being the only team to finish within the top 4 each night, we established a Soild points lead rolling into the finial round meaning we only had to finish as low as P18 in the A-main to wrap the championship up.

As we rolled out for the A-main we were set to start out in the P2 spot courtesy of some dominant heat race action. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be & we split a radiator hose before the 2N even saw the green flag resulting in a P24 DNS. 🥲

Special thanks to jett bell & Jason for having all hands on deck in an attempt at any sort of hail merry just so I can at least see the green flag and putt around the back.

Congrats to Chad and his team on the win, well deserved.

End result for our speedweek campaign: 🥈 from 50.

Big thanks to all our JLR partners for their continued support:

* Illawarra Strata
* mjm performance
* REMAC Fire Safety
* Cole Civil Contracting
* 52nd Earthworx & Haulage
* Reidy Civil
* New Image Landscapes
* Riverview Landscape
* Australian Soil & Concrete Testing
* Gordon Macdonald Electrical
* DPE Civil
* Illawarra Strata Management
* Stevens Civil
* SignTism
* Douglas Park Excavations

And the crew who worked non stop for 8 days straight.
Gaz
Scott
Dad

Michelle
Mum

Back to the drawing board to figure out what’s next 💪.

04/01/2026

Welcome back - 2026 is a year for collaboration and kindness - In case you missed it, here's the Summer Edition of Strata Community & Living Magazine - Strata Community Association (NSW)

KNOWLEDGE STRATA LIVING Every quarter SCA (NSW) releases the Strata Living and Community magazine, a community living focused publication. Printable Version

31/12/2025

Happy New Year! 🥳 🎊
We hope your 2026 is peaceful & happy.

2025 provided some challenges and some lessons. We choose to focus on the lessons as this is where the growth is.

Onward & upward - bring on 2026.

25/11/2025

Do you know the different Roles within an Owners Corporation ? Who Does What?

Strata living works best when everyone understands their role.

While your Strata Committee makes decisions and guides the direction of the Owners Corporation, your Strata Manager is there to implement those decisions, ensure compliance, and keep everything running smoothly.

But there are two other roles people often confuse - Building Managers and Property Managers - so here is a simple breakdown:

🔍 Key difference in a nutshell:

Strata Committee: Decision-makers

Strata Manager: Administrators, coordinators & compliance experts

Building Managers: on-site support - handles maintenance, contractors, and the physical condition of the building.

Property Manager: works for individual lot owners - handles tenants, leases, inspections and lot property or rental issues.

Together, they keep your scheme legally compliant, financially sound, and well maintained.

Poll: Do you know who in your strata handles what tasks?

🙋‍♀️Want to know more?

☎️ 42264144

19/10/2025

📘 A lot of people don’t understand the role of the Owners Corporation

Did you know the Owners Corporation (OC) is responsible for managing and maintaining the common property in your strata scheme?

Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), the OC’s key functions include:

🏢 Insurance – arranging building and public liability insurance

🧰 Maintenance – repairing and maintaining common property

🗳️ Meetings & Decisions – holding meetings, passing motions, and keeping records

Together, these responsibilities ensure your building stays compliant, protected, and well-maintained.

💬 Committee Members — we’d love to hear from you!

What’s the biggest challenge your OC faces right now?

And how can we help you?

Give us a call 📞 42264144
Or drop us a line - [email protected]

02/10/2025

✨ Important Owners’ Rights ✨

Did you know that under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (SSMA), Section 182, you have the right to access your scheme’s records? 📂

This is often called a “Strata Search” and is most commonly completed by Search Agents during the purchase process. But as an owner, you also have this right at any time.

These records include:

✅ Financial statements & budgets

✅ Meeting agendas & minutes

✅ Insurance policies

✅ Correspondence held by the Owners Corporation

🔑 Understanding your rights helps you stay informed, protect your investment, and keep your community transparent.

👉 Did you know you could request these records? Comment below if you’ve ever exercised this right, or if you’d like us to share how to make a request.

25/09/2025

We're one step ahead!

Despite having ALWAYS disclosed commissions as part of our remuneration structure, we decided to take a proactive stance and have been rebating insurance commissions since January 2025.

This formed part of our risk management strategy when deciding to offer all our clients the new SCA (NSW) Agreement including rebated commissions and better terms.

Within 6-12 months, we will be completely commission-free.💛

Have a read for all the current news on Commissions.

From 1 January 2026, Strata Community Association NSW (SCA NSW) will begin a phased replacement of insurance commissions for strata managing agents.

24/09/2025

📚 Understanding the SSMA 2015

The Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 shapes how every NSW strata scheme operates — from maintaining common property to running meetings and managing levies.

Knowing your rights and responsibilities under the SSMA helps you make confident decisions and ensures your community runs smoothly.

👉 Swipe through to learn the basics and why it matters for every owner and resident.

💬 Comment below with one part of the SSMA 2015 that’s impacted you or your building!