Back to Blog
The Knight team were lucky enough to attend a demonstration with FAMASO last month, the facilities service company which has secured the Australian rights to Norwegian technology KTV Working Drones.
Taking place in South Melbourne, the FAMASO team showed us the speed and ease in which a varied building exterior could be cleaned utilising pressurised water up to 80 degrees, getting as close as 1-1.5m from the surface, and even combatting winds up to 30km per hour. These cutting-edge drones represent a breakthrough in the cleaning industry, able to clean both glass and facades, while minimising the risk, time and issues of access inherent in traditional façade cleaning. Powered by rechargeable batteries, using minimal water and with no harsh chemicals required, the KTV Working Drone also reveals a more sustainable alternative, all the while maintaining asset value and standard. FAMASO is the first company in Australia to be granted a Window & Façade Cleaning drone licenses by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and their plans for innovation aren’t stopping. KTV drones are looking to expand to functions such as painting and inspections in the future, leveraging advanced sensors and AI-driven algorithms. We are excited to explore all the benefits of risk management, timesaving, cost-cutting and footprint-reduction which these drones could bring to our properties. Read more…
0 Comments
Read More
Back to Blog
A statement from The Knight’s Managing Director, Gregor Evans.
Many will have seen the media reporting over the past 24 hours regarding some of the unscrupulous practices which can unfortunately exist within the Owners Corporation (Strata) management industry. Reporting of this nature is a blow to many in the industry, the overwhelming majority of whom are hardworking, honest professionals, proud of the work that they do to protect and better the communities under their care. Firstly, to alleviate any concerns our clients may be feeling, I’d like to share a few reminders (all of which we outline clearly on our website and in our proposals and are proud to claim as true since our inception):
We too want to stamp out dodgy behaviour and we have long been advocating for greater government intervention, greater transparency, greater ethics and greater protection for consumers. We want strata living to be considered a lifestyle of choice. Read more…
Back to Blog
We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for The Knight as we welcome Carla Pizzorno to our team as the newly appointed Owners Corporation Operations Manager. This strategic addition brings a wealth of experience and expertise, to propel our organisation towards new heights of efficiency and excellence.
Carla comes to us with a proven track record in both the legal and strata worlds, making her an ideal fit to lead our OC Operations team. Carla’s passion is people, and in her new role will bolster and invigorate our existing culture of continuous improvement. “My passion is understanding people whilst inspiring and supporting them to be the best they can be. I love that I have the opportunity to do this in the ever growing and developing OC industry with long standing clients and OC managers that are required to have skills across a variety of fields.” This exciting new role will guide our team in adapting to the ever-evolving industry landscape and cement The Knight as a leader in Owners Corporation Management. Efficiencies in Operations. One of the primary objectives of this appointment is to enhance operational efficiencies across the board. Carla will leverage her extensive background in Owners Corporation Management and Department Lead roles to optimise our current operating model, identify training needs, and help deliver excellent services. By focusing on efficiency, we aim to create an improved team experience, and deliver an elevated level of service to our clients and stakeholders. With this appointment, outgoing-Operations Manager, Scott McCann will step into the role of General Manager, utilising his extensive experience and knowledge to support Carla, whilst providing greater strategic guidance and leadership to the organisation. Read More…
Back to Blog
On Friday 27 October, the SCA (Vic) Strata Community Excellence Awards Gala Dinner was held.
Hosted at the Leonda by the Yarra, the evening was a celebration of those who make a significant contribution to the strata industry and community, from Managers to suppliers and everything in between. We would like to send our congratulations to all finalists and nominees in this year’s awards. The Knight were proud finalists in six categories this year (click the category to learn more about the award and our nominees):
Our win in the ‘Rising Star’ category marks our second win in this category in the past 3 years, illustrative of our dedication to nurturing and celebrating our young strata talent. Our win for the inaugural ‘Environmental, Social & Community Impact’ trophy marks our third year running in the environmental category, after picking up the ‘Environmental & Engagement Award’ in both 2022 and 2021. This category recognises a new entrant to the industry who has shown outstanding progress early in their career. We were proud to nominate Owners Corporation Manager, Jessa Yen. Jessa strives at providing a tailored approach for her clients and works tirelessly to foster close working relationships. Since joining The Knight in 2021, Jessa has taken on additional training and is currently part of the Emerging Leadership program at The Knight. She is also pursuing further studies to gain a deeper understanding of legislation and legal specifically pertaining to strata and aims to incorporate her passion for sustainability into her work at The Knight. Read more…
Back to Blog
As strata insurance premiums continue to skyrocket – is Insurance Premium Funding the timely solution for strata communities?
Insurance Premium Funding: What is it? Insurance Premium Funding (IPF) is a financial solution designed to help Owners Corporations manage their insurance costs more effectively. It allows owners to spread the cost of insurance premiums over time, typically in monthly or quarterly installments, instead of paying a lump sum annually. IPF ensures that Owners Corporations can maintain comprehensive insurance cover without straining lot owners’ cash flow. Indeed, given the time constraints on paying premiums, sometimes Owners Corporations have missed premiums simply because of the time required to issue levies and receive payment – IPF eliminates that risk. Changing dynamics of the insurance market. Rising inflation, supply chain constraints, catastrophic weather events, scarcity of materials and labour shortages are all factors driving the increasing costs of insurance in strata. Add in changes to global reinsurance markets and we have a perfect storm (somewhat literally). The statistics are telling:
IPF offers a practical solution to the challenges posed by the changing insurance market. Here’s how IPF can make a difference:
Back to Blog
How secure is your driveway gate?
Did you know that there are devices which can scan and copy the frequency of remote controls used to operate driveway gates from 50m away? These devices are particularly effective with 125Khz (low frequency) fobs and are readily available for purchase online. This creates a concerning security risk for properties using this type of fob to open remote controlled gates. Using such a device, an unknown party could easily gain access to common property to target vehicles and mailboxes, jeopardising residents’ belongings, and sensitive information. The team at Brave Security have shared a few alternative options which Owners Corporations can consider, if concerned about this potential risk. Keypad Entry Systems As the name suggests, Keypad Entry Systems require residents, trades and authorised personnel to enter a unique code to gain access. Not only is this more secure, but it will allow the OC to remove external key safes, which can often be broken into and provide further security risk. Swipe card readers in driveways In these systems, each resident is issued a unique fob or card that must be swiped to activate the gate. Some systems even allow for Bluetooth reading from a larger distance which means residents don’t need to wind down their window and touch the fob to the reader. Number Plate Recognition Cameras can be installed for scanning licence plates at the gate, to only allow access to registered/authorised plates. Plates can also be added for a period to allow contractors to gain access if required, and then removed at the conclusion of a job. Surveillance Cameras Cameras both help deter potential intruders, while also providing valuable evidence in the event of a security breach. While there may be costs involved in implementing these measures, if an Owners Corporation is looking to improve the safety, security and amenity provided to residents, assessing the driveway gate may be a great place to start. Speak with your Owners Corporation Manager if you wish to arrange a review of current security protocols.
Back to Blog
The Knight’s Community Building Grants9/12/2023 The benefits of a strong community within an Owners Corporation include increased security, reduced tenant turn over, and improved resident well being. While as Owners Corporation Managers, our main role is to facilitate the management of common property, we strongly believe that we also have a role to play in the facilitation of a strong community spirit.
This is why each year The Knight awards grants to Committees looking to implement a community building initiative at their property. Previous initiatives have ranged from Christmas in July celebrations to Trick or Treating and all sharing the common goal of getting neighbours together to get to know each other better. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page, and be sure to be subscribed to our newsletter to find out about the upcoming application process, and how The Knight could help your Committee with community building in 2021. Read More…
Back to Blog
Feeding Hungry Aussie Kids with Eat Up7/21/2023 At the end of June, we had the pleasure of hosting our Australian Knight, Lyndon Galea from Eat Up Australia as he guided 25 of our team through a sandwich making marathon in our Caulfield office.
The morning started with many hands loading loaves of bread, margarine and sliced cheese from Eat Up’s trusty van, Norma into our sunny break room. From here, Lyndon taught us to become a polished production line for the humble cheese sandwich. Everyone was assigned a role, from spreader, to wrapper, to stacker, and together, we made over 1000 sandwiches in under an hour. The session was an eye-opening experience, showcasing just how many kids are turning up to school each day without lunch to fuel their growing bodies and minds. We’re proud to support such an amazing organisation that is making a real difference in the lives of Australian children. Who are Eat Up? After reading that kids were going hungry at school in his hometown of Shepparton in 2013, Lyndon pinched what he could from his Mum’s cupboards and started making sandwiches to drop to the schools mentioned in the article. Today, Eat Up feeds hungry kids at over 650 schools across the country and has delivered over 2.5 million lunches and counting. You can learn more, and find out ways to support this great cause, over at the Eat Up website. Read more…
Back to Blog
2022-2023 SCA Australasia Awards6/22/2023 On Wednesday 7th June, the 2022-2023 SCA Australasia Awards Gala Dinner was held. Hosted at the Darwin Convention Centre, the evening was a celebration of those who make a significant contribution to the strata industry and community across Australia and New Zealand. The winners from the 2022 SCA (Vic) Pillar Awards were finalists in the 2022-2023 SCA Australasia Awards. We would like to send our congratulations to all finalists and winners in this year’s awards. The Knight were proud finalists in six categories this year:
Essay Award – Sim Firns – Finalist This award recognises an individual who displays a sound understanding of the topic and its relevance to the strata community industry. Sim Firns submitted an essay titled “It’s all part of the service” exploring the effects of burnout and the importance of a supportive team culture within management firms. In her essay, Sim highlights the different ways in which we can support our peers, and how strata employees and businesses can take control of a sometimes uncontrollable role. We are so pleased for Sim to be recognised as a finalist of this category. Read More…
Back to Blog
In 2021, The Knight launched our webinar training series, designed to equip Committee Members with the knowledge and skills needed to perform their duties and support functional, harmonious communities.
The fourth session was held on 17 May 2023 titled ‘The Role of a Building Manager‘and covered:
Watch webinar #4: The Role of a Building Manager. |