Understand How Superannuation Works and What Your Rights Are

From July 2025, your employer is required[1] to pay (on top of your pay) a further 12% of your wages into a nominated superannuation account. 

When you commence your employment, you need to complete a “Choice of Super” form to indicate which Superannuation fund you would like your Super paid into. If you do not elect a fund your Superannuation payments will be made into your employer's default fund. You may change your nominated Superannuation Fund at any time.

There are a handful of jobs where you cannot choose your superannuation fund. Many industries have a “default” industry Super Fund specified in their Award or EBA[3]. I am not aware of one for the outdoor industry, and there is definitely not one for people who have no award wage. 

As a minimum, employers are required to make superannuation contributions quarterly in to your nominated fund. In the first few months of your employment I recommend checking that these payments are being made. If not, you should talk to your employer as soon as possible. The problem could be as simple as them having the wrong fund information and they might be happy to correct it, but if it isn’t fixed quickly after you bring it to their attention then I would recommend that you speak to the ATO as soon as possible.

Some advice

While you are still figuring things out, put all of your super in one fund. It doesn’t matter which one, just pick one. If you end up with very small amounts of super in lots of places then you will find that the fees associated with having a superannuation fund reduce the meagre balance you have to nothing!  The government has gone some way to improving these fees and the systems for rolling together multiple super accounts, but it still requires you to use your brain.

[1] The Superannuation Act 1990 and 2005

[2] If you have any more questions about Superannuation, you should contact the ATO on their Superannuation hotline on 13 10 20 or go to www.ato.gov.au/Super 

[3] This includes people that are employed under some state industrial awards or federal industrial agreements