From Shocks to Strength: How Strata Can Adapt to Modern Stress

In an increasingly mad world, anything that helps our capacity to survive, adapt and thrive in the face of chronic stress and acute shocks must be a good thing. This is the work of Resilient Cities Network, a global network of cites building safe and equitable cities for all.

Melinda Dewsnap, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Sydney, spoke at IFMOP last week. She discussed how the Resilient Sydney Strategy 2025 – 2030 is addressing apartment living. There’s gold in this report for strata owners and professionals everywhere.

What is resilience of our cities about?

Resilience literature speaks of shocks and stresses. Shocks are sudden events that disrupt a city: international events such as the GFC and Covid, natural hazards like heatwaves, flooding, storms and coastal hazards, and critical infrastructure failure, for example, energy, waste, water and shelter.

Stresses are ongoing challenges that make individuals and communities more vulnerable. These include inequity in housing and cost of living, wellbeing issues like mental health, social isolation, racism and vilification, and governance concerns such as low trust, environmental degradation, and reduced social cohesion.

Melinda’s presentation was alarming, but at the same time comforting. There is much work being done to address these issues.

Why does resilience matter to strata?

As Melinda spoke about these issues, and later, reading about resilience in cities, the penny dropped. Many issues strata professionals have been discussing recently fit within the definition of stresses and shocks that disrupt and damage the strata communities we manage.

Recall the confusion and heartache we felt grappling with restrictions on the use of common property during the pandemic. Consider the current cost of living crisis leading owners corporations to become the second highest group applying for bankruptcy orders. They are just one percentage point behind the tax office. Reflect on the impact of building defects on the physical and mental health of strata owners and occupants everywhere. Think for a moment how rising trust issues and declining social ties are creating psychosocial risks for managers and committee members in strata meetings and offices everywhere.

I hadn’t thought of it this way before, but strata communities have a resilience problem.

What action can we take to improve strata resilience?

Action 23 (of 30) in Resilient Sydney provides a starting point – improve emergency awareness in apartment buildings.

Focus groups of apartment owners show there are low levels of emergency awareness in apartment communities. The Owners Corporation Network agrees. An OCN report (link below) offers practical examples of resilience issues. It makes 24 policy recommendations for various governments and agencies. Willoughby and Lane Cove Councils have prepared a guide to creating a friendly and resilient community in apartment buildings.

A basic evacuation plan and a list of who’s in the building with telephone numbers are a good first step.

What should strata managers do to help grow resilience?

There is, of course, a limit to how much strata managers can do, and should be expected to do, for the fee they are paid. However, strata health and safety matter to all communities and are key for good strata management practice. Strata managers should at the very least know that resilience is an issue. They should be able to direct committees to resources that help them think about this issue and take resident-led action.

Where can I get information and resources about resilience in strata?

Resilient Sydney

Owners Corporation Network: Strata Disaster: How Prepared Are Our Apartment Communities for Emergencies and Disasters?

Lane Cove Council: Meet Your Neighbours