QSuper superannuation

Following a merger with Sunsuper, QSuper is now part of Australian Retirement Trust, one of Australia’s largest super funds.

Eligible members can choose from accumulation and retirement income accounts, financial advice and insurance options. The QSuper brand will continue as a part of Australian Retirement Trust, dedicated to providing superannuation products and services to employees of the Queensland government and other QSuper default employers, as well as family members of these employees.

What QSuper products are available?

Here’s an overview of QSuper superannuation products.

Types of QSuper super accounts

QSuper Accumulation account

The QSuper Accumulation account is designed for those working and saving towards retirement, and offers a range of investment options.

Lifetime: This is the default option for the QSuper Accumulation account. It uses your age and account balance to determine how your savings are invested and the level of risk involved. Each Lifetime investment option is designed to meet members’ needs at different stages of life.
Diversified and Single Sector: Options such as Aggressive, Balanced or Cash enable members to set their own mix of investments, such as from asset classes such as cash, bonds and shares. Members can also choose from pre-mixed options with asset allocations based on different investment goals, and a Socially Responsible option.

Some of the other features offered through the QSuper accumulation account include:

Insurance: Eligible members can access income protection cover, total and permanent disability (TPD) cover and death cover. As with any insurance product, consider checking the cover amount and any exclusions, limitations or other conditions that may apply, as well as the premiums you would be charged before deciding whether it suits your needs.
Online and mobile app access
Access to financial advice about your QSuper accounts is available at no additional cost.

How to open a QSuper account

In order to open a QSuper account, you must meet one of the following conditions:

be employed by the Queensland Government or a QSuper default employer
be a spouse of an existing QSuper member
be a child (under the age of 25) of an existing QSuper member
be retired and aged from 60 up to your 80th birthday for a QSuper Lifetime Pension.

A spouse includes someone you are legally married to or in a de facto relationship with (including same-sex partners). A child includes adopted children, stepchildren, and the children of your spouse.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria to open a QSuper account, you can still join Australian Retirement Trust, which is open to all Australians.

What should you do before joining a super fund?

If you decide to open a Australian Retirement Trust or QSuper account, remember to tell your employer that you’ve joined the fund. Your employer should give you a Superannuation Standard Choice Form to fill out, sign and return to them.

Before committing to a particular fund, consider comparing your options with Canstar and checking out our choosing a super fund checklist. You can also read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for an Australian Retirement Trust product to help decide whether it is suitable for your needs.

Compare Super Funds

QSuper and Australian Retirement Trust FAQs

Who can join QSuper?

Eligibility criteria apply to join QSuper, which has continued as a brand as part of Australian Retirement Trust, following a merger in 2022 with Sunsuper. To create a QSuper account, you must meet one or more of the following conditions:

be employed by the Queensland Government or a QSuper default employer
be a spouse of an existing QSuper member
be a child (under the age of 25) of an existing QSuper member
be retired and aged from 60 up to your 80th birthday for a QSuper Lifetime Pension.

Who can join Australian Retirement Trust?

Australian Retirement Trust is open to all Australians to join. You can find out more about Australian Retirement Trust on Canstar, and compare super funds.

Do the QSuper Accumulation and Income accounts offer an ethical investment option?

The QSuper Accumulation and Income accounts offer a Socially Responsible option, seeking to invest in areas such as clean energy, conservation and the environment, waste reduction and recycling, education and healthcare. It avoids certain types of investments, including in fossil fuels, gambling and adult entertainment.

Members should be aware that this option invests in assets that aim for ‘higher long-term returns’ and this increases the likelihood your super account balance may drop in value over the short term. Consider seeking financial advice to understand whether this option is suitable for you.

What fees apply with QSuper products?

There are a number of fees that apply to QSuper accounts. At the time of writing, members are charged the following fees. Fee levels vary depending on the investment option chosen.

Investment fees: Investment fees and costs ranging from 0.08% to 0.60% per year, and transaction costs ranging from 0.00% to 0.22% per year.
Administration fees: 0.15% per year.

There are no fees to switch investments or make withdrawals. Bear in mind that other fees may apply. Consider checking the relevant QSuper Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and other product documentation for details.

Can I consolidate super into a QSuper account?

Yes, you can log in to search for money with other super funds and combine it into your QSuper account. Before you consolidate your super, you should check whether you would lock in an investment loss, and check with your other super funds if there are any fees or tax implications, or loss of insurance or other benefits.

About QSuper

QSuper is part of Australian Retirement Trust, one of Australia’s largest and oldest super funds. It has 620,000 members and more than $133 billion in funds under administration, and began as one of Australia’s first public sector funds. It merged in 2022 with Sunsuper to create Australian Retirement Trust.

This content was reviewed as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by: Jacqueline Belesky | Last updated: July 1, 2022