澳洲是一个典型的福利国家，福利优厚，名目繁多，是世界上社会福利最好的国家之一。
澳洲社会保障津贴种类有：
孩子 助养费：一个有孩子的家庭年收入不超过65,000澳元便可以领取，每两周约50-300澳元/人，金额取决于孩子的年龄、数量和家庭的总收入和财产。
特 别救济金：发放给生活有困难的人，新移民在其无法控制的情况下而导致的状况改变时才可申领，每两周约330澳元/人。
失业 救济金：每两周约330澳元/人。 凡在工作年龄内，有工作能力，愿意工作而找不到工作的人均可以领取，但新移民要等两年才有资格申领。
养老 金：65岁可以开始享用，能否领取 养老金或领取的多少将根据个人收入、资产而定，领取养老金的人可以得到优惠的医疗药品和其他卫生保健待遇，其他的优惠还有减收交通费、地方税、电费和汽车 注册费等等。
分娩津贴：每分娩一个孩子时，可得到950澳元的一次性分娩津贴，以帮助为新生儿增添用品。
此 外，还有学习津贴、疾病和伤残津贴、灾难津贴、边远地区津贴、寡妇津贴、看护津贴、配偶津贴、电话津贴、房租津贴、交通津贴、托儿津贴等。
大 多数新移民要等两年才有资格申领部分社会保障付款，其中包括失业救济金和学习津贴，但不包括医药津贴、孩子助养费、特别救济金、大学奖学金和学费免息贷 款。
Prior to the introduction of the "Superannuation Guarantee" in 1992 by the Keating Labor government, reasonably widespread superannuation arrangements had been in place for many years under industrial awards negotiated by the union movement between wage increases.
The compulsory "Superannuation Guarantee" system was introduced as part of a major reform package addressing Australia's retirement income policies. It was anticipated that Australia, along with many other Western nations, would experience a major demographic shift in the coming decades, resulting in the anticipated increase in age pension payments placing an unaffordable strain on the Australian economy. The proposed solution was a "three pillars" approach to retirement income:
A safety net consisting of a means-tested Government age pension system
Private savings generated through compulsory contributions to superannuation
Voluntary savings through superannuation and other investments
The change came about through a tripartite agreement between the government, employers and the trade unions. The trade unions agreed to forego a national 3% pay increase which would be put into the new superannuation system for all employees in Australia. This was matched by employers contributions which were set to increase over time to a proposed 12%. Subsequent changes meant this has been capped at the lower employer rate of 9%.
Since its introduction, employers have been required to make compulsory contributions to superannuation on behalf of most of their employees. This contribution was originally set at 3% of the employees' income, and has been gradually increased by the Australian government. Since 1 July 2002, the minimum contribution has been set at 9% of an employee's ordinary time earnings. The 9% is thus not payable on overtime rates but is payable on remuneration items such as bonuses, commissions, shift loading and casual loadings.
Though there is general widespread support for compulsory superannuation today, it was met with strong resistance by small business groups at the time of its introduction who were fearful of the burden associated with its implementation and its ongoing costs.
The Howard government was criticised by former Prime Minister Paul Keating for its reluctance to increase the compulsory rate of superannuation. Keating argued that had the compulsory rate been 15% since 1996, rather than the current 9%, total superannuation assets in Australia would be approaching $2 trillion - almost double the current level.
After more than a decade of compulsory contributions, Australian workers have over $1.28 trillion in superannuation assets. Australians now have more money invested in managed funds per capita than any other economy.
Compulsory superannuation in combination with buoyant economic growth has turned Australia into a 'shareholder society', where most workers are now indirect investors in the stock market. Consequently, a lively personal investment marketplace has developed, and many Australians take an interest in investment topics.