How did you first come to work in strata? I actually found my way into strata almost by accident. At the time, I was eight months pregnant and working evenings to help a Strata management company on the Sunshine Coast (a family friend of my mothers) transition all of their records into Stratamax. Before that, I’d been working in our family real estate/property business as a property manager, preparing to step away on maternity leave. As I worked through the data, I became un

Laura Bos, General Manager SCAQ Strata living is not a trend. It is the future of Brisbane. More and more Queenslanders are choosing to live in community titles schemes. At the same time, Brisbane is stepping onto the global stage. We are a major events city. We are preparing for 2032. We are growing up. Those two realities now intersect in a very real way through short stay accommodation. This week SCAQ lodged its submission in response to Brisbane City Council’s proposed sh

Why Strata Strata wasn’t a career I set out to choose—it chose me. And in strata, you quickly learn that you either thrive or you move on. I stayed—and thrived. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I love variety, problem‑solving, and challenge—and I’ve never been well‑suited to monotony.  Career Journey My career began in 1982 after completing secretarial college, when I joined Mayne & Van Der Linda (M&L) in Durban, South Africa, as a receptionist. At the young age of

We are pleased to announce the release of the Airbnb Strata Hosting Guide: Queensland , developed in collaboration with SCAQ and informed directly by feedback from our members. This guide represents a practical and constructive step forward in supporting responsible short stay accommodation within Queensland strata communities. As outlined in the Guide, Airbnb worked in partnership with SCAQ to ensure the resource reflects the realities of body corporate living and the operat

Twenty‑five years ago, I never planned to work in strata. I was in hospitality management—long hours, fast pace, constant movement. Then life, as it often does, opened an unexpected door: a role as an onsite manager, at a complex of 176 apartments across two towers. I remember standing there on my first day, looking up at the balconies and windows, sensing the many lives intertwined behind them, and thinking: Can I really do this? So I showed up, learned the rhythms of the co

With the start of 2026 and January well underway, businesses have an opportunity to set the tone for a productive and compliant year. Businesses are advised to consider the following to prepare for another successful year. Review Employment Contracts, HR Policies and HR Templates Kick off the year by reviewing employment contracts and policies to ensure they reflect any recent legislative changes and prepare for upcoming changes. Changes from 2025 will continue to have signif

SCAQ has formally lodged a submission to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act Statutory Review. We wanted to let you know why we have taken this step, and why it matters to you and the bodies corporate you support. Why this submission matters Many of you have told us, consistently and candidly, about your experiences with QCAT in body corporate matters. In particular: lengthy delays in dispute resolution decisions made without sufficient understanding of the b

Born in Brisbane, I am the daughter of an ambitious and courageous Greek immigrant. From an early age, education, opportunity, and new experiences were central to my upbringing. Around the time the world was bracing for Y2K, I was a Law and Business graduate in Brisbane with big dreams of supporting Australian small business. If you had told me then that I would spend the next 25 years immersed in the strata industry, I would have laughed, and probably asked, “What’s strata?”

To say I “fell” into the industry would be putting it mildly. It was 1998, and Townsville was in the midst of devastating floods when I applied for a position at a real estate office. I turned up on my first day thinking I’d been hired as a receptionist. The office was chaos. Phones ringing non-stop, staff darting around, paperwork piling up faster than the floodwaters. For the first week, I pitched in wherever I could. Two weeks later, I discovered I wasn’t the new reception

Every industry is shaped by people who are willing to show up, stay the course, and quietly raise the bar for everyone around them. In strata, those contributions are often unseen, but they are deeply felt. 10 Storeys (see what we did there?) was created to change that. This series is about telling the stories of women in our sector. The trailblazers, the steady hands, the leaders who have shaped strata not through noise or notoriety, but through commitment, integrity, and se

The festive season arrives each year with familiar rituals. Offices fill with decorations, inboxes overflow with well wishes, and across the strata sector a quiet and often uncomfortable question resurfaces: what is appropriate when it comes to Christmas gifting? In many industries gifts are a simple gesture of gratitude. In strata they come with legal, ethical and reputational considerations that should never be overlooked. Queensland’s body corporate legislation imposes cle

Article supplied by SCAQ GOLD Partners, Humenergy. Sustainability in design is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity to achieve the highest returns on capital investment. It makes sense to forge powerful partnerships from the very early stages of design to ensure new developments have seamlessly integrated, easily expandable technology across all infrastructure. For electricity that could mean solar generation, battery storage and EV charging capabilities integrated into the

Following our recent elections, SCAQ is pleased to share the Strata Community Association Queensland (SCAQ) Board Executive for 2025/26. Board Executive 2025/26 President : George Salloum Senior Vice President : Simon Barnard Vice President : Sarah Price George, Simon and Sarah bring deep sector experience, strong governance capability and a shared commitment to supporting our members and a thriving strata sector in Queensland. They will continue to work closely with the full

Strata Community Association Queensland today announced the appointment of its 2025 Board, marking an important moment of renewal and continuity for the peak body representing more than 1.2 million Queenslanders who live and work in strata communities. The incoming Board members are George Salloum, Simon Barnard, Cameron Griffiths, Sarah Price, Peter Cassels, Michael Hurley, Cath Pashley, Keye Jackson and Scott Paynter . Each brings significant expertise across strata manage

By Andrew Davidson, President SCAQ As I write my final report as State President, I do so with immense pride and gratitude. These past years have been a defining chapter in SCAQ’s story — a period where we found our voice, defined our purpose, and set a new standard for professionalism in the strata sector. This has never been just a role for me; it has been a privilege. To lead an organisation built on passion, courage, and commitment is a rare opportunity. To do so alongsid

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Written by Jarad Maher, Partner, Grace Lawyers   The commencement of the Property Law Act 2023 (Qld) ( PLA ) on 1 August 2025 brings...

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The Australian Government’s cyclone reinsurance pool has lowered insurance premiums for customers facing medium to high risk of cyclone,...