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. Contributions to the employee’s chosen fund must commence within two months.
Employers must complete the default fund details before providing the form to an employee. Find out more about Employers' choice of fund obligations.
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, and detailed guidelines for employers and employees are available in Choice of Super Fund in the Western Australian Public Sector.
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 or providing all the necessary information in writing to their HR Officer. Before choosing a different fund the potential change of particular insurance entitlements and a comparison of fees and charges between the funds should be considered carefully, as super is designed to be a long-term investment.
What happens if no choice is made?
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.
When choice does not apply
Show more‘Defined benefit schemes’ such as Gold State Super and the 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, FESS Super, 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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