Women and superannuation - taking control of your future

In the 2010-11 Federal Budget the government announced future changes to super. These changes, if passed by parliament, will change the information on this page. For a summary of these changes, refer to Changes to super.

Recent research has shown that women are often significantly disadvantaged when it comes to superannuation (super). The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) reported that average retirement payouts in 2009 were approximately half the super balance of men.

The work patterns of many women can have a big impact on the amount of money they will have to support themselves in retirement. Taking time out of the workforce at some stage to meet caring responsibilities or study can affect income levels which are directly linked to the amount of super that women accumulate over a lifetime.

Financial arrangements for retirement should reflect the fact that Australian women generally outlive men.

Why is superannuation important?

How do you picture your retirement years? The following information shows you how to make the most of your super. It aims to provide you with the knowledge to increase your super savings and work towards financial security in retirement.