Why it matters for backpackers

Short jobs and leaving Australia made it easy for super to go missing. Now you can see it arrive each payday.

What to do

• Give each employer the same super fund.
• Check your fund app every few weeks.
• If super is missing, ask your employer, then contact the ATO.
• Claim it back when you leave with a DASP. See our super guide.

What is super?

Super (superannuation) is money your employer pays into a retirement fund on top of your wages. It is not taken out of your pay. For most jobs in Australia, including casual work, working holiday makers are entitled to super just like everyone else. The rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings.

What changed with Payday Super

Until now, employers only had to pay super every three months. That meant backpackers often finished a job, moved on, and never checked whether the super actually arrived. Some employers paid late and some never paid at all. With Payday Super, the money must be paid when your wages are paid and land in your fund within 7 business days. If it does not show up, you will know quickly instead of months later.

How to set up your super properly

When you start a new job, your employer will give you a form to choose a super fund. If you already have a fund from a previous job, give them the same details. One fund is easier to track and you pay one set of fees instead of several. Your fund will have an app or online account where you can see every payment.

What to do if super is missing

• Check your payslip. It should show the super amount for that pay.
• Check your fund app a week or two after payday.
• If it has not arrived, ask your employer or payroll politely and keep a record.
• If it still does not arrive, you can report unpaid super to the ATO.

Claiming your super when you leave

When your visa ends and you have left Australia, you can claim your super through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) online. Tax is taken from the DASP at a higher rate for working holiday makers, but the rest is yours. Claim it once you have left, and do it before you lose access to your Australian bank account or email, as it makes the process much easier.

Why this is good news for backpackers

Short contracts, harvest work and regular moves between towns made it easy for super to slip through the cracks. Payday Super makes it much simpler to check you have been paid everything you are owed. If you are working on a farm, in a cafe or on a building site, take two minutes after each payday to check your fund.

Find your next job on TAW jobs, and make sure your CV is ready with our free CV builder.

Sources: Fair Work: Payday Super.