Our story
QSuper was established in 1913 in Queensland to help Australians save for retirement and to provide financial support in the event of unexpected illness. At the time, superannuation was only available to a small number of Queensland Government employees – full-time salaried teachers, administrative clerks, and other white-collar workers. But it was a start.
Over the years, we introduced new products and services, won a number of awards for providing the best value and services for members, and merged to become part of Australian Retirement Trust.
Milestones and memories 1913 - present
1913
The fund that will become QSuper, the Public Service Superannuation Fund, was established on 1 January, to help Queensland Government workers save for retirement.
1920
We had 4,915 contributing members at the start of the decade.
1930
We paid out £16,015 in 1930 for death and incapacity claims, and £5,764 in retirement funds.
1944
During World War II, we had more than 3,000 members on active war service, including 133 female officers.
1956
Legislation changes meant railway workers, nurses, temporary workers, and wages staff, among others, became able to join us.
1958
The Public Service Superannuation Act introduced widows' and children's pensions in Queensland for the first time.
1978
We ran our first pre-retirement seminar, starting our program to help members understand their super and plan for retirement.
1990
A number of Queensland public sector super funds merged to become QSuper.
1992
Super became compulsory, with the superannuation guarantee (SG) that employers must contribute for their employees.
1994
We launched QInvest to provide members with personal financial advice about their super.
2000
Our Accumulation account launched so members, such as new nurses, could receive more generous super contributions.
2009
After the global financial crisis (GFC), we redesigned how we invest your super. Our new "risk-balanced" investment philosophy aimed to smooth the ups and downs of the market, while providing consistent returns.
2013
We brought Lifetime to members - an industry-leading investment option that automatically personalises your investment strategy based on your age and your Lifetime account balance.
2014
Self Invest launched, an investment option where members could directly invest their super in shares, term deposits, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Self Invest closed to new investors on 30 June 2023.
2017
We became a public offer fund on 1 July.
2021
We revolutionised retirement by launching Lifetime Pension to provide an income for life.
2022
We merged with Sunsuper to become part of Australian Retirement Trust. We now take care of existing members, Government employees, and their families.
The present
You can enjoy your best years with us, knowing we've got your future covered.
2.3m
members and counting
$260b+in retirement savings
185,000+
participating employers
We invest differently
In the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis (GFC), we redesigned how we invest our members' super.
Our "risk-balanced" investment philosophy aims to provide consistent growth over the long term with a smoother ride, so our members can focus on today, knowing they'll be right later.
It's one of the reasons we're an award winner for 15-year investment performance.
Supporting our community
We believe we have a responsibility to support all of our members in achieving financial wellbeing, so it's one of our priorities to positively influence and advocate for them.
Reconciliation at QSuper
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face significant and unique barriers that may prevent access to their super. To counter this, we visit these communities to help break down these obstacles, and provide fair and equitable access to their super.
To demonstrate our dedication to advancing reconciliation in Australia, in June 2018, we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan.
Our conversations with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members and analysis identified key areas of opportunity where we believe we can make a significant difference, including:
- Improving financial literacy
- Promoting cultural awareness
- Increasing access to superannuation services and potential benefits.
In 2023, we released our new Reconciliation Action Plan as part of Australian Retirement Trust.
Find out more
Closing the super gender gap
1 in 3 women retire without superannuation. We think that's far too many. We know that women are less likely to achieve financial security in retirement, due to a variety of factors including the gender pay gap, childcare and elder care, part-time work, and a longer average lifespan.
With 64% of QSuper members being women, we're committed to improving their overall wellbeing and addressing the gender imbalance in super at retirement.
Our She's on Q events are designed by women for women and make talking about your finance and career relatable, with real-world, inspiring examples delivered by experts in their field.
When we can't do the work ourselves, we support organisations and events that do, including RizeUp and DVConnect.
Find out more
Is QSuper an industry super fund?
Show content
No, we're not an industry super fund. We began as a public sector super fund, and we now offer products to Queensland Government employees and their families as part of Australian Retirement Trust.
While we aren't an industry super fund, we do have some similar characteristics to industry funds:
- Profit-for-members
- Work for members, not shareholders
- Committed to lower fees.
Is QSuper an APRA-regulated fund?
Show content
No, QSuper is no longer a super fund. Instead, QSuper is part of Australian Retirement Trust, which is a regulated fund.
This means we have to comply with the legislation governing most Australian super funds.
Our MySuper authorisation number is 60905115063050.
Can any employer join QSuper?
Show content
Depending on your business, you may be able to partner with Australian Retirement Trust, partner with QSuper and take advantage of a range of benefits for you and your employees. Make sure you check your industrial award to see if a particular fund is listed as a default super fund for your industry.
How can I access information about my client's account?
Show content
If you're a financial adviser, your client can give you authority to your client's QSuper account by sending us a completed Authority to Release Information form (pdf), which has all the required information we need.
We're committed to working with you to ensure our combined expertise results in the best possible outcomes for your clients.