Key Takeaways

  • Since November 2021, Australia's "super stapling" rules mean your existing fund follows you to a new job automatically, unless you actively choose otherwise.
  • Stapling was introduced to prevent the accumulation of multiple super accounts, which erodes retirement savings through duplicate fees and insurance premiums.
  • You always retain the right to choose your own super fund when starting a new job — stapling is a default, not a mandate.
  • Checking for lost or inactive super accounts via myGov or the ATO is an important step for anyone who has changed jobs multiple times.
  • The Superannuation Guarantee rate is now 12%, meaning your new employer must contribute that rate on your ordinary time earnings from day one.

A New Job Is a Key Moment for Your Retirement Planning

Changing jobs is one of life's most common financial transitions, yet it is also one where superannuation decisions are most often made poorly — or not at all. For years, starting a new job meant the automatic creation of a new super account with whichever fund your employer nominated. The result, for people who changed jobs several times, was a scattered collection of accounts quietly consuming fees while the owner remained unaware. The super stapling regime that took effect in November 2021 fundamentally changed this.

What Is Super Stapling?

Super stapling is the mechanism by which an employee's existing super fund follows them from job to job. Before this change, not nominating a fund when starting a new job meant your employer enrolled you in their default — potentially creating yet another account alongside existing ones.

Under the stapling regime, your employer checks with the ATO to determine whether you have an existing super fund. If you do, and you do not nominate an alternative, your contributions flow there. The result is one fund, continuous accumulation, and no duplicate fees. If you are entering the workforce for the first time with no existing account, you can choose a fund or your employer will enrol you in their nominated default, which then becomes your stapled fund.

Your Right to Choose

Stapling is a default, not a rule that removes your right to choose. At any point when starting a new job, you can nominate a different super fund by completing a choice of fund form and providing it to your employer. If you are happy with your current fund, you do not need to do anything. If you want to change — perhaps because your new employer offers a lower-fee fund, or because you want to consolidate — simply make that election when starting your new role.

Insurance Cover: A Critical Consideration

One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of changing jobs is the impact on insurance held inside your fund. Many Australians have default life insurance, total and permanent disability (TPD) cover, and income protection through their super fund.

When your super remains with your existing fund under stapling, your insurance generally continues uninterrupted. However, if you switch funds, you may need to re-apply with the new fund and face medical underwriting. Before switching, check what cover you hold and whether any medical history might affect your ability to obtain equivalent cover. The cost of an uninformed switch can outweigh any fee savings.

Lost and Inactive Super Accounts

Despite the stapling reforms, many Australians still have lost or inactive accounts from before November 2021. Balances in dormant accounts are transferred to the ATO if inactive for a certain period. The most straightforward way to locate lost accounts is through myGov — once linked to the ATO, you can see all super accounts associated with your tax file number and consolidate them through the same platform.

Before consolidating, check whether any account holds insurance cover that would be lost on closure, and consider any tax implications of rolling over particular balance types.

Employer Obligations and a Practical Checklist

Your new employer is legally required to make Superannuation Guarantee contributions from the start of your employment. As of 1 July 2025, the SG rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, with no waiting period. If you suspect your employer is not paying correctly, the ATO has mechanisms for reporting non-compliance and recovering unpaid contributions.

When commencing a new role: decide whether to keep your existing fund or nominate a new one; provide a completed choice of fund form if switching; verify after your first few pay cycles that contributions are flowing correctly; and check myGov for older accounts worth consolidating.