If you’ve been appointed Chairperson of your committee (or stepping in to chair a meeting), congratulations and don’t panic.  

Chairing a strata or community association meeting doesn’t require legal training or a big booming voice. It simply takes preparation, a fair approach, and an understanding of how strata an community meetings work. 

This beginner’s guide will walk you through your responsibilities and provide a handy checklist to help you run your first meeting smoothly and confidently. 

In strata and community schemes, meetings are where decisions get made but not all meetings are created equal. Two of the most common are committee meetings and general meetings. They sound similar, but they serve different purposes, involve different people, and follow different rules. 

Strata and community title living is an increasingly popular choice across Australia, offering shared amenities, maintained common areas, and a built-in sense of community. However, behind the scenes of every well-run strata or community scheme lies a framework of clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Understanding who does what is essential for smooth operation, effective decision-making, and harmonious living. 

Running a self-managed scheme is a great way to save on management fees and stay directly involved in how your building is run. But with that independence comes responsibility especially when it comes to keeping proper records. 

Good record-keeping isn’t just a legal requirement under strata and community scheme laws in every Australian state and territory it’s also your best defence against disputes, confusion, and headaches down the track. 

Here’s a simple guide for small, self-managed schemes. 

Ready to make sense of how strata committees work? Whether you’re thinking about getting involved or just want to know who’s handling your building’s decisions, here’s what you need to know in a simple format.