News & Media
Media Statements & Releases
First Super innovates to grow and evolve
July 1st, 2020
High-performing industry super fund First Super has broadened its public offering with a new exclusive partnership to promote its capacity to accept KiwiSaver transfers for New Zealanders moving to and living in Australia. The agreement is with the respected and well-established firm NZRelo, the premier provider of relocation and migration advice and information for people […]
Working families to lose if MPs win on plan to cut super
September 13th, 2019
Australian families will stand to lose nearly $250,000 in retirement savings if the push to cut the super increase by a group of backbench MPs is successful, new analysis reveals. Some Federal backbenchers want the Government to cut the promised increased in super contributions, breaking a key election promise and denying local families the retirement […]
First Super members benefit from strong long-term results
August 27th, 2019
First Super has again delivered strong long-term results for members, with an annual return for the 2018/19 financial year of 6.70% for its default option, and five and ten-year returns of 8.68% and 8.84% respectively. First Super is the industry super fund for workers in the timber, pulp and paper, and furniture and joinery industries. […]
Robyn Burns welcomed as new director at First Super, as board veteran Allan Stewart stands down
May 30th, 2019
First Super has appointed regional businesswoman Robyn Burns to its board, effective from 1 July 2019. Ms Burns has had a long and successful career as a senior executive at Borg Manufacturing. An accountant by trade, she has overseen the expansion of Borg as it has developed into one of the principal employers on the […]
First Super wins Money Magazine award
November 29th, 2018
First Super is celebrating after being named a Gold Winner in Money Magazine’s Best of the Best 2019 awards. The national industry super fund for the furniture and joinery, pulp and paper, and timber sectors won the Best Capital Stable Super Fund category for its Conservative Balanced option. In addition, the Fund scored second place in […]
Small is beautiful: First Super outperforms funds 50 times larger
August 30th, 2018
First Super has delivered another year of robust investment performance for its members, reporting annual returns of 10.68% in the Balanced (default) option, 11.90% in Growth, and 13.91% in Shares Plus*. First Super’s cash option also performed strongly, returning 2.31% over 2017/18. The Growth option return saw First Super outperform most other superannuation funds in […]
Message from the CEO – Royal Commission
August 6th, 2018
“You may have heard or read that the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry begins its superannuation-focused hearings in Melbourne on 6 August. First Super has not been called to give evidence at the hearings. “Ahead of the hearings, the Royal Commission asked First Super (along with other financial […]
Latest News
How our Financial Planners can help you choose an investment option
November 29th, 2023
At First Super, we offer many ways to invest your super. But you may be wondering which super investment option is best for you and whether you should choose one, or a mix. Each of First Super’s pre-mixed investment options come with different risk levels and returns. ‘One size fits all’ does not apply when […]
Investment update – September quarter 2023
November 29th, 2023
Here’s a look at what’s been happening in investment markets recently and what it means for your superannuation. Interest rates to remain higher for longer In the last quarter of the 2022-2023 financial year, data suggested inflation was slowing, though it remained high and needed to come down further. With inflation moderating, financial markets believed […]
A year of positive returns and Fund growth
October 27th, 2023
From The CEO, Bill Watson For First Super and its 50,000 members, the 2022/23 financial year was a year of positive investment returns and Fund growth. We outperformed many larger funds with our investment returns. The MySuper/Balanced accumulation option, where most of our members’ super is invested, returned 9.44% for 2022/23.1 Pleasingly, our Balanced Accumulation […]
Financial year 22/23 Investment Update with CEO Bill Watson
September 13th, 2023
Your Fund continued to deliver strong returns in 2023, despite market uncertainty. We achieved positive returns for all investment options and outperformed several larger funds. Our Balanced option was a top 10 performer over the last three years, according to rankings from superannuation ratings agency SuperRatings to 30 June 20231. Investment option Investment returns from […]
Investment update – June quarter 2023
August 15th, 2023
Here’s a look at what’s been happening in investment markets recently and what it means for your superannuation. The big picture Our last update questioned whether all the rapid interest rate rises by central banks across the globe were having the desired impact. Data suggests inflation is slowing but remains high and needs to come […]
Frontier Market Update – May 2023
July 31st, 2023
In this May market update, Wayne Sullivan and KCC Low say there have been further rate hikes by central banks and more bank collapses. In the US, labour markets are still strong and inflation is still elevated but slowing, and bank lending conditions have tightened materially which is expected to lead to the economy slowing […]
Member voice: Ray, Mt Gambier
July 27th, 2023
First Super member Ray Kilsby works as a boiler attendant in Mount Gambier. He joined the Fund five years ago and has been a member ever since. About First Super, he says: ‘I love the returns that they’re giving me.’ Ray has also taken financial advice from a First Super financial planner*, because he wanted […]
More money for your super
July 27th, 2023
Super Guarantee increase Did you know that from 1st July 2023, the minimum amount your employer must pay into your super – known as the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) – has increased from 10.5% to 11%? So if your annual salary is $50,000, you will receive 11% of $50,000 in SG payments – or $5,500 into […]