UOAQ, its stakeholders and how they work together for better strata communities

A practical discussion with Ross Anderson, the Vice President of the Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ)

In the 6th episode of the Let’s Talk Strata Podcast, Ross Anderson talks about the role of the committee and how committees can be enhanced by drawing upon the existing skill sets of the body of lot owners within the Community Titles Scheme.

Ross talks about the benefits of reaching out to the UOAQ and how this organisation assists lot owners through the dissemination of valuable information on the rules that govern bodies corporates in Queensland – both technical and practical.

On the role of the committee, and the UOAQ disseminating information to those stakeholders, Ross remarks:

“The way in which we pass this message out is … if this is what you would do in your normal life, why not do it in the committee life. If it makes sense with your own money, why wouldn’t it make sense when you’re managing other people’s money?”

…

“... we really encourage them [committee members] to tap into either paid externals (professionals) or into the people in their own community. If you have a structural engineer living there, talk to him about engineering problems, if you have an accountant, talk to him about the accountancy aspects … there’s a lot of talent in these complexes and it’s not exclusive to the committee, so committees just need to be more inclusive and more participative and actually invite more people into the meetings and find out what they can do to help, and the really good complexes that I work with do that as a matter of course …”

Ross finally addresses the need for strata organisations and peak bodies to work together and also for schemes to embrace technology. Ross further advocates for the enhancement of Body Corporate Managers and associated administrative staff training for the benefit of all lot owners.