Australian Apartment Advocacy

21/08/2026

FLAME has officially arrived in Melbourne. 🔥

Last night marked a special milestone for AAA as we held our first Victorian Female Leadership in Apartment Management Excellence (FLAME) event.

It was an evening of genuine conversation, shared experiences and new connections, bringing women from across the apartment and strata sector together in one room.

A huge thank you to our speakers Jo Farrell, Anna Galluzzo and Lesley Vallance for sharing their stories, experiences and insights with us, and to our sponsors MYBOS, Active Utilities, Remedial Building Services Australia, District Facility Management, RC & Co Lawyers, FRM Flood Restoration Melbourne, Avello Group, TSM Strata , Firewize, BG Private, Brave Security, Pace Insurance, BCCS, TFMS, for helping make Melbourne’s first FLAME possible.

And of course, thank you to everyone who joined us. What a fantastic way to begin the FLAME community in Victoria. 🔥

20/08/2026

Our latest AAA Stakeholder Luncheon in Melbourne brought our Victorian sponsors together at Cargo Restaurant for a relaxed lunch, giving everyone the chance to catch up, share what’s happening across the sector and continue the conversations that help strengthen the AAA community.

19/08/2026

What does the future of apartment living look like in South Australia?

With SA’s population expected to grow significantly over the next decade, apartments will play an increasingly important role in meeting housing demand. But how do we build confidence in apartment living, strengthen design and build quality, and ensure apartments are seen as a preferred housing choice?

Australian Apartment Advocacy, together with the City of Adelaide, is bringing the sector together for the SA Apartment Think Tank on Thursday, 5 November at Crowne Plaza Adelaide.

This full-day Think Tank will bring together builders, developers, architects, planners, strata managers, government representatives and apartment owners to share perspectives and help shape what the next five years of apartment living in South Australia could look like.

If you work in, influence or care about the future of South Australia’s apartment sector, we’d love you to be part of the conversation.

Register here:
https://events.humanitix.com/sa-apartment-think-tank

17/08/2026

We’re pleased to welcome CleanTech Pools as a new NSW Sponsor of Australian Apartment Advocacy.

From pool renovations and equipment upgrades to ongoing maintenance and care, CleanTech Pools brings extensive experience to keeping swimming pools looking and performing at their best.

We’re delighted to have the CleanTech Pools team supporting AAA and look forward to working with them as part of our growing sponsor community.

Find out more: www.cleantechpools.com.au

17/08/2026

When a $3,000 strata levy dispute ends in bankruptcy, it raises some serious questions about what can happen when disputes between apartment owners and their owners corporation escalate.

AAA Founder and CEO Sam Reece has spoken with The Senior as part of its latest article examining the case of Sydney apartment owner Keith Fernandez and the significant financial consequences that followed his decision to dispute a special levy.

For AAA, stories like this reinforce why apartment owners need access to clear information, appropriate support and fair processes when disputes arise.

Apartment ownership comes with financial and legal obligations that can have very real consequences, and owners need to understand those obligations before a disagreement reaches the point of costly legal action.

Thank you to The Senior for continuing the conversation and giving a voice to issues affecting apartment owners.

Read the article:
https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9324552/keith-fernandez-3000-strata-levy-dispute-led-to-bankruptcy/?msg=login

13/08/2026

Do you know what to look for when your Owners Corporation financials land in your inbox?

For many apartment owners, P&Ls, Balance Sheets, budgets and audit reports can feel complicated — but understanding the basics can help you ask better questions and make more informed decisions about your building.

Join Australian Apartment Advocacy for Financial Management – the Do’s and Don’ts: 10 Top Tips, a practical session designed for apartment owners.

Matthew Faulkner of Matthew Faulkner Accountancy will cover:
• How to read a P&L
• What a Balance Sheet tells you
• The difference between Admin and Sinking Fund budgeting
• Why audits matter and the red flags to look out for

Andrew Boss of Firstrata Finance will then explain when financing may be needed, the different options available including special levies, strata loans and hybrid funding, and what an Owners Corporation should consider when deciding what works best for the building.

The presentations will be followed by Q&A and networking.

📅 Wednesday 9 September
⏰ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Level 1, 60 Martin Place, Sydney

If you work in strata management, this is a practical session designed to add another layer of knowledge to the financial conversations you’re already having with your committees.

Register here:
https://events.humanitix.com/financial-management-the-do-s-and-don-ts-10-top-tips

Thank you to our sponsors:

MYBOS | Active Utilities | Remedial Building Services Australia | Firstrata Finance | Elevating Studio Australia & New Zealand | Aerocycle plumbing and pumping | Matthew Faulkner Accountancy (Strata Auditor) | Premium Strata | Frigcorp | Quatrix Security | Premier Pointing | Marion Facilities Management | Global CSA | Ferguson Brown Insurance Brokers | Credwell | Bannermans Lawyers | Cleaver Strata Consulting | Danrae Group | Total Building Engineering Solutions | Impact Group | APT Roofing Pty Ltd | DDE Electrical | TerraFuse | EBS Consultants | SafePave | MJT Group Facility Services | Landlay Consulting Group | Property Recruitment Partners | Robertson's Remedial & Painting | Archi-QS | JACmedia

Learn top tips for managing and auditing your OC's budgets

12/08/2026

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢 🔥

Victoria’s inaugural FLAME - Female Leadership in Apartment Management Excellence event is happening next Thursday, and registration is still open.

This special Melbourne event will put the spotlight on women in construction, bringing together three accomplished businesswomen who have built impressive careers across construction, development and leadership:

🔥 Jo Farrell – Build Like a Girl
🔥 Anna Regina G. – Senior leadership experience across Lendlease, Bunnings Group and McDonald’s Australia
🔥 Lesley Vallance – Demolition industry leader

They’ll share their experiences, challenges, insights and perspectives on building successful careers in an industry that continues to evolve.

If you work in apartments, property, construction or development or simply want to hear from women who have forged their own path in the industry join us.

📅 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝟱.𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺 – 𝟳.𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺
📍 𝟮 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝟲𝟵𝟳 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁, 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

If you’ve been meaning to register, now is the time.

Register now:
https://events.humanitix.com/female-leadership-in-apartment-management-excellence-vic

Thank you to our sponsors:

MYBOS | Active Utilities | Remedial Building Services Australia | BG Private | Firewize | TSM Strata | FRM Flood Restoration Melbourne | Elevating Studio Australia & New Zealand | Firstrata Finance | RC & Co Lawyers | BCCS - Strata Cleaning, Gardening & Building Management | Avello Group | Pace Insurance | District Facility Management | Brave Security

12/08/2026

A beautiful home can still be seriously affected by what is happening behind the scenes within its strata scheme.

This confronting story of a Glebe property owner describes unresolved repairs, repeated meetings, escalating costs and an overwhelming volume of reports and legal correspondence.

It is not an argument against apartment living. It is a reminder that strong governance, transparent records, proactive maintenance and timely decision-making are fundamental to protecting apartment owners and the value of their homes.

Buyers should carefully review strata reports, meeting minutes, financial records and any information relating to defects, disputes or planned works before purchasing. However, the responsibility cannot rest solely with buyers.

Owners corporations, committees, strata managers, developers, regulators and the broader industry must all play their part in ensuring problems are identified, communicated and resolved before they become prolonged and costly disputes.

Apartment living works when buildings are well constructed, properly maintained and effectively governed. Stories like this should drive better standards, greater transparency and meaningful reform, not acceptance that these experiences are simply part of strata living.

Read the full article:
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/selling/sydney-property-owner-lists-dream-home-for-fraction-of-the-cost-after-strata-nightmare/news-story/3fd8ee346da35bd8d2658569ea03f9c3

11/08/2026

A look back at an incredible night celebrating Queensland’s apartment community. 🏆✨

The 2026 Australian Apartment Advocacy Queensland Awards brought together an outstanding group of people, projects and organisations making a positive impact on apartment living across the state.

Congratulations again to all of our Queensland finalists and winners, and thank you to everyone who joined us for such a memorable evening.

And the celebrations aren’t over yet…

Next stop: the 2026 Australian Apartment Advocacy National Awards, being held at Crown Towers Melbourne on 21 August.

We can’t wait to bring the industry together again and celebrate the very best from across Australia.

10/08/2026

There is no single “ideal” apartment.

As this article highlights, different generations value different things from their homes. Some buyers want generous living areas, additional bathrooms and low-maintenance comfort. Others are prioritising extra rooms that can adapt as a home office, guest room or source of rental income.

At Australian Apartment Advocacy, we believe this reinforces the need for greater diversity in apartment design.

Right-sizing should not mean compromising on liveability. It means creating thoughtfully designed homes that use space well, offer flexibility and support people through different stages of their lives.

The best apartments are not simply measured by their number of bedrooms or total square metres. They are designed around how people actually live.

Read the full article:
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/right-sizing-vs-room-maxing-new-data-reveals-generational-apartment-divide/