From career breaks to new beginnings, HESTA is here to help keep your super on track through each chapter.
Women’s careers don’t always follow a traditional path. Families can grow, priorities can shift, and paid work can be reduced or put on pause.
But that doesn’t mean your financial future should suffer.
Start by truly getting to know your super
It might be easy to just ‘set and forget’ your super, but it’s worth checking in to make sure your money’s working hard for your future. Start by:
- reviewing your payslip to make sure the right amount of super is being paid by your employer. It should be a minimum of 12% of your salary*.
- Check if you have insurance cover with your super. Make sure you and your family are protected if something unexpected happens.
* Subject to eligibility. Learn more on the ATO website.
What to consider if you’re taking a break from paid work
- Combine your super: By combining your super, you’ll stop paying multiple fees across multiple super accounts. More on combining your super
- Get $500 from the government: If your total income is less than $62,488 for the 2025-26 financial year and you make an after-tax contribution to your super, you could be eligible for a co-contribution from the government of up to $500. More on co-contributions
- Set up spouse contributions: Your spouse could make an after-tax contribution to your super while you’re on leave. How spouse contributions work
- Start contribution splitting: Your spouse may be able to pay some of their before-tax super contributions into your account to keep your super growing. Understand contribution splitting
What to consider if you’re taking parental leave
- Take advantage of waived insurance fees: If you’re a HESTA member, you could be eligible for a 12-month break from paying insurance fees while you’re on parental leave. Your insurance options
- Talk to your employer: If your employer is paying parental leave, it doesn’t automatically mean they’ll keep paying your super contributions. It’s worth checking in ahead of time so you know what to expect.
- Check your government entitlements: The government is now paying super on the Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave Scheme, so if you’re eligible for this leave, your super balance can continue to grow. Explore your entitlements
What to consider if you’re separating or getting a divorce
- Look into super splitting: Couples who are divorcing or separating can divide their assets by splitting their super. How super splitting works
- Ask an expert: If you’re a HESTA member, you can discuss your situation with a HESTA super specialist at no extra cost. Make an appointment
Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL No. 235249, Trustee of HESTA ABN 64 971 749 321
The information shown is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or specific needs, so you should look at your own financial position and requirements before making a decision. You may wish to consult an adviser when doing this. For more information, free call 1800 813 327 or visit hesta.com.au/pds for a copy of a Product Disclosure Statement which should be considered when making a decision about HESTA products and consider any relevant risks (hesta.com.au/understanding risk). The target market determination for HESTA products can be found at hesta.com.au/tmd.
