Aside from a few exceptions, employers are required to provide a standard choice form to new employees, including those transferring from another public sector agency, within 28 days of their commencement. However, providing this form on or before the employee’s first day of work is recommended, as contributions to the new employee’s chosen fund must be received by the nominated fund within 20 business days of their first payment of salary or wages.
These requirements are consistent with the Commonwealth’s Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992, Part 3A Division 6. The Commonwealth requirements relating to stapled funds, as defined in Part 3A Division 7, currently do not apply to State Government employers and employees covered by the State Superannuation Act 2000.
General information about choice of fund is available from the ATO website.
Detailed guidance for WA public sector employers and employees are available in the Choice of Super Fund brochure.
When can employees choose a super fund?
Show morePublic sector employees can choose a super fund upon commencement or at any time during their employment by completing the standard choice form and providing this to their HR Officer.
If you don’t choose a fund
Show moreIt is not compulsory to choose a super fund. Employees who do not choose a fund will have their employer’s SG contributions paid to their employer’s default fund which is listed on the standard choice form provided by the employer. In the State public sector this will most often be a super fund administered by GESB.
Employees who cannot choose a fund
Show more‘Defined benefit schemes’ such as Gold State Super and the State Pension Scheme pay a specified benefit based on a particular level of member contributions. Members of these schemes are not required to be provided with a Standard choice form. However, Gold State members can choose to withdraw from the scheme by contacting GESB in the first instance.
Permanent employees of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services are not currently eligible to choose their superannuation fund. Their employer contributions are either paid into the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund, or to a GESB-administered scheme if they are a GESB member who elects to continue with their GESB-administered account.
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