Learning & Development

Module 1: Workplace Health & Safety

👓 10 minute module

Welcome to First National's new Workplace Health & Safety programme – People First at First National.

Each bite-sized eLearning module includes an editable policy - just review, sign, and file it at your office. Every two weeks, we’ll remind you which training to complete and the matching policy to review.

Staying compliant has never been easier.

Click below, to hear from Adrian, on the Workplace Health and Safety platform, and what you need to do.

Step 1 – Stop & delegate

Nominate a member of your team to be your Learning Influencer. They will:

Confirm every staff member has an individual FN Central login
Schedule each 10-minute module (over the next six months)
Click here to find out how you assign a learning Influencer on FN Central

Step 2 - Complete Module 1

▶ Module: Workplace Health & Safety

▶ Policy: Editable PDF

▶ Deadline: 19 July

Why the hurry?

Much of this training is already mandated nationally, and other jurisdictions will soon follow. Signed policies + module completion = confidence you're meeting your responsibilities.

Need help or have feedback? Reach out to support@firstnational.com.au

Boost to Buy: 2% deposits fast track QLD first-homebuyer deals

👓 30 second read

Queensland's new shared-equity pilot lets eligible buyers secure a property with only a 2 per cent deposit, while the government takes a silent equity stake.

Up to 30 per cent equity on new builds and 25 per cent on existing homes.
Price cap $1 million; income caps $150k singles / $225k couples.
Just 1,000 places over two years – encourage pre-approval now.
Buyers can still pair the scheme with the $30k First Home Owner Grant and stamp-duty freeze.

Why it matters to our agents

First National sales teams across Queensland can position qualifying listings as suddenly reachable for renters priced out until now. Quick, well-informed guidance will build trust, convert enquiries faster, and widen First National’s first-homebuyer pipeline - statewide.

Rent‐bidding ban tightens: WA property managers face $50k penalties

WA property managers… never ask, hint, or invite a tenant to offer above the advertised weekly rent. Accept a higher offer only if the tenant volunteers it unprompted.

Doe this apply to you?: Applies statewide, including regional markets. Consumer Protection officers now conduct undercover checks at regional opens, starting in the Goldfields.
Penalties: Up to $10,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations per breach. Document all rental offers and communications to demonstrate compliance.
Advertising and dialogue:
- Quote a single fixed rent in listings and window cards.
- Remove phrases such as “offers from” or “contact agent for price.”
Open inspections: Expect compliance officers posing as applicants. Ensure every team member can define rent bidding and state the maximum advertised rent without hesitation.
Owner briefings: Provide landlords with written guidance on the ban and urge them not to pressure your team to chase higher rent than the advertised price.
Audit trail: Keep notes of every application, shortlist, and rent offer. Store emails and text messages for at least seven years.

Adhering to these steps protects tenants, landlords, and your agency from costly fines and reputational damage.

New NSW Bond Reporting, Privacy Checks and Termination Evidence: Your July Compliance To-Do List

From 1 July NSW Fair Trading is reshaping three core parts of day-to-day property management. Below is a guide to keep your office compliant and your landlords informed.

Penalties of up to $5,500 for individuals and $22,000 for businesses

1. Bond refunds — reason for ending the tenancy now mandatory

Rental Bonds Online (RBO) has been upgraded. When you lodge or release a bond you must pick the reason the tenancy ended from the new drop-down list. No separate report is required, but incomplete submissions will not process.

Recommended actions

Update your end-of-tenancy checklist
Train assistants on the new RBO screen before 1 July
Brief landlords that the reason is reported to Fair Trading

2. Personal data reform — stricter limits on what you collect

The Residential Tenancies (Protection of Personal Information) Amendment Bill 2025 is before Parliament. It will:

mandate a standard rental application form
cap the personal data you may request and use
force disclosure of embedded networks in rental properties
require you to flag digitally altered images that could mislead applicants (no adding AI generated furniture or hiding damage)

Recommended actions

Audit your application form and digital marketing now
Prepare to switch to the government template once released
Review third-party tech suppliers for data-minimisation compliance

3. Ending a tenancy for major works — evidence simplified

Since 19 May landlords must cite a specific ground to end a tenancy. For significant renovations or repairs, the evidence rules changed again on 20 June: only a signed, dated written statement is now required. It must:

explain why the works are significant
justify why the property must be vacant
set out the proposed start date

Recommended actions

Replace any pre-20 June templates that still ask for extra documents
Double-check notices served between 19 May and 20 June included the old document set, or risk invalid termination
Diarise the re-letting exclusion periods that follow renovation terminations

Questions for your next PM team meeting

Are our bond release workflows fit for the new RBO fields?
Which data points on our application form will breach the pending Act?
Do our landlords understand the narrower evidence now required for renovation terminations?
Did you know that under the new legislation, the non-disclosure of misleading altered photos will result in a penalty of up to $5,500 for individuals and $22,000 for businesses, while fines of $11,000 for individuals and $49,500 for businesses will apply for privacy rule breaches.

Proactive adjustments today will save you fines and tribunal headaches tomorrow. Reach out to your State Membership Manager (SMM) if you need further support.

New wave of expectations for NSW Strata Title

From 1 July NSW NSW’s Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025 introduces a wave of new expectations for owners corporations, strata managers and developers. Changes all agents should be aware of:

Faster Renovation Approvals: If a strata committee does not respond to a minor renovation request within 3 months, it is now automatically approved.
Mandatory Sustainability Focus: Owners corporations must consider environmental sustainability at each Annual General Meeting (AGM), including reviewing common property energy and water usage.
No Aesthetic Blocks on Solar and EV Infrastructure: By-laws that ban installations like solar panels or electric vehicle chargers purely on visual grounds are now invalid.
Six-Monthly Strata Agent Reporting: Managing agents must provide regular performance reports to the scheme, increasing accountability.
Developer Obligations Strengthened: Developers must provide independently certified maintenance schedules and levy estimates before the first AGM, with higher penalties for non-compliance.