If Strata is a Form of Government, How Do We Influence Behaviour and Improve Social Outcomes within Our Properties?
I was sitting in the SCA A100 seminar when the instructor introduced an idea that initially seemed problematic. They suggested strata is the fourth level of government, envisioning government consisted of federal, state, local, and then… strata? Governing involves both the administration and control of a community. There is no doubt strata management involves administration. We prepare budgets, hold elections, and more. Instead, I realized the reason I instinctively had a problem with the idea of strata as government is because we are so limited in how we can exert authority. We have minimal access to forms of coercive power. We do have some ability to take offenders to VCAT, but this only happens in a minority of cases. Despite our lack of coercive power, we manage many societal issues. This includes waste management, vandalism, and more. Owners Corporations therefore need to find other ways to discourage bad behaviour. This essay explains how Owners Corporations can influence behavi...