1. Network & Industry

In This Edition… 

📈 FN returns to growth, after 8 years of declining membership

🌱 Chairman and CEO: Rebrand locked in – What happens next

🤖 When AI Goes Rogue – Five Real-World Failures

🥇 Cleveland and Townsville Dominate Queensland Awards Night

🏆 Murray Bridge and Alice Springs Take SA/NT’s Top Honours

💻 New AI Policy Template Gives Agencies Clear Guardrails

📝 Write for AI First – Or Risk Being Invisible Online

📊 Vacancies Rise Slightly – But Landlords Still Hold the Advantage

🚨 Rent Tech Security Warning – Lease Documents May Be Exposed

📄 OAIC Audits - Is Your Agency Privacy Compliant?

Growth Returns, Brand Future to be Revealed in Da Nang

📽️ 5 minute video

👓 2 minute read

The Chairman and CEO recently released a video that all members must see. For the first time in more than eight years, First National is back in positive office growth!

In the first two months of this year alone, we've welcomed five new principals and five new offices to the network. That delivers net growth of +2 and, more importantly, clear forward momentum - with more new offices soon to be announced.

This is not accidental. It reflects disciplined recruitment, focused retention planning and renewed confidence in our cooperative model. Growth strengthens every member. It lifts brand presence, market credibility and competitive position in an already crowded environment.

At the same time, the Board has unanimously approved our new brand identity.

Our creative agency, Whippet, has progressed with concepts rigorously tested for clarity, consistency, digital performance and long-term relevance.

The Board has endorsed the final identity. The decision to withhold visuals until launch is deliberate. This is a significant competitive investment. Protecting its impact is a governance responsibility.

The full brand reveal will take place live on stage in Da Nang on 19 May. It will be the most important keynote presentation our network has delivered in over a decade, outlining not only the new identity but the disciplined change management programme that will support implementation.

Our growth is real. Our direction is set. The next chapter of First National will be unveiled together.

Be in the room when it happens.

Board Formally Approves Rebrand, Next Steps & Answers to Common Questions

📹 8 minute video

👓 1 minute read

Communications & Marketing Director, Mark Jansen, has confirmed Board approval of all elements of the rebrand, so it’s full steam ahead. 

In a quick video released recently, Mark answers the most common questions about the process we're working through and what happens next. 

If you missed the email we sent, catch up now.

FN Cleveland and FN Townsville Sweep QLD State Awards

👓 1 minute read

It was a thrilling evening at the Brisbane Convention Centre when FN Cleveland was announced winner of QLD Sales Office of the Year and FN Townsville (Aitkenvale), was announced QLD Property Management Office of the Year.

Former long-term members David & Dorothy Hamilton were also honoured with Queensland’s highest accolade -Life Legend Member award.

Topping the individual awards was Julie Neilsen-Thompson of FN Townsville who took home QLD Property Manager of the Year; Kristy Surman of FN 360 Mackay who won QLD Business Development Manager of the Year, and Ryan McCann of FN Cleveland who achieved QLD Salesperson of the Year. 

View full details of major award winners on the National Website and make sure you download a media release/blog template to promote your awards on your website. No longer optional, this is essential information that effectively strengthens your online authority with AI and Google search. 

Don’t hesitate to ask our Customer Service team if you need a hand – 1800 032 332.

FN Murray Bridge and FN Alice Springs Take Top SA/NT Awards

👓 1 minute read

Hot on the heels of our Queensland awards, South Australia and Northern Territory members celebrated their 2025 successes at Skycity Adelaide.

During the evening, FN Murray Bridge (SA) was announced winner of SA/NT Sales Office of the Year and FN Alice Springs (NT) was announced SA/NT Property Management Office of the Year.

Topping the individual awards was Karlie Ridley of FN Lewis Prior (Warradale, SA) who took home SA/NT Property Manager of the Year; Nathan Janda of FN Salisbury (SA) who won SA/NT Business Development Manager of the Year, and Mitchell Halpin of FN Broken Hill (NSW) who achieved SA/NT Salesperson of the Year. 

• Full details of major award winners on the National Website 

• Download a media release/blog template to promote your awards on your website.

Member AI Policy Template Released

👓 1 minute read

First National Real Estate has developed an Artificial Intelligence policy template that’s ready for your office to implement. The policy helps you define how AI is allowed to be used in your agency, clearly establishing permitted, restricted, and prohibited usage tiers.

Having an AI policy to critical to avoiding data privacy breaches and establishes a clear understanding of boundaries when it comes to the use of AI tools with marketing.

See chapter two – Learning & Development - for full details.

Rental Market Easing But Still Landlord-Leaning

👓 1 minute read

The national vacancy rate has risen to 1.48 %, its highest since February 2022 but still well below the 2.5 % which we consider to be the point of balance. January’s lift reflects seasonal leasing activity rather than a structural shift.

Victoria shows investor re-engagement

• Melbourne vacancy is now 1.81%, the highest of the capitals
• Interstate investors are entering on value and equity gains from stronger markets
• Higher property taxes are being factored into rental returns
• Investor lending has strengthened over the past year

Tightest markets remain landlord-friendly

• Brisbane 1.13%
• Perth 1.11%
• Hobart 0.72%
• Darwin remains comparatively strong, with 1.76% vacancy and yields around 6%.

The takeaways are that conditions have eased slightly, but vacancy risk remains low in most markets. Investor enquiry is rebuilding, particularly in Victoria. Supply remains the structural constraint to genuine balance.

This is moderation, not a downturn. Agencies should focus on disciplined pricing, investor advisory capability and vacancy minimisation strategies.

Rental Apps Under Scrutiny, Lease Data Exposure Risk

👓 2 minute read

Rental technology platforms used by many real estate agencies are under increased regulatory scrutiny, with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) identifying rent tech as a priority area in 2026.

A digital researcher has reportedly found that certain rental platforms allowed sensitive lease documents to be accessed via direct hyperlinks without requiring a login. By altering numbers within URLs, documents dating back to 2017 could allegedly be viewed. In some instances, URL shorteners made links easier to guess, and accessing one lease reportedly generated authentication cookies that enabled broader account access.

Although at least one platform has upgraded its security controls, including link expiry and sharing restrictions, systems your office may be using could expose your clients to increased risk. 

First National urges immediate review of all property management platforms, verification of authentication and link controls, written security assurances from providers, and confirmation that data breach response plans comply with Australian privacy law.

Platforms reported to have fixed vulnerabilities:

• Inspection Express

Platforms that could be under review by OAIC:

• PropertyMe
• Ailo
• Reapit PM (formerly Console Cloud)
• OurProperty
• Kolmeo
• RentingSmart
• Property Tree

Reporting to date has not publicly listed all vulnerable systems by name, but only Inspection Express has been reported to have adjusted security controls.