Expanding super for under-18s could help close the gender super gap, says Rest

By Newsdesk

December 11 2025
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In a push to address the gender disparity in superannuation savings, Rest, one of Australia's largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has called for a significant policy change that would allow all workers under the age of 18 to earn superannuation. New modelling from the Super Members Council of Australia suggests that this change could play a crucial role in closing the gender super gap from the outset of young Australians' working lives.

Expanding super for under-18s could help close the gender super gap, says Rest

Currently, the superannuation landscape for under-18 workers is marked by a notable loophole. These young workers are only eligible for compulsory Superannuation Guarantee payments if they work more than 30 hours per week for a single employer, although some employers do choose to make these payments voluntarily. Rest argues that this requirement disproportionately affects female workers, who are less likely to meet the 30-hour threshold.

According to the new modelling, a typical female teenage worker could see her super balance increase by $2,500 by the time she turns 18 if she receives super contributions for at least two years. This amount is projected to grow to $11,000, in today's dollars, by the time she reaches retirement age. In comparison, a typical male teenage worker could accumulate $2,000 more by age 18 and $9,000 more by retirement under the same conditions.

Simone Van Veen, Rest's Chief Member Officer, emphasised the importance of making super universal for all under-18 workers. “By changing this unfair law, not only can we help countless young Australians have a fairer start with their super, we can also help close the gender super gap,” she stated. Van Veen highlighted the current disparity, noting, “Women under the age of 18 are less likely to work more than 30 hours than men. We also know female Rest members of this age typically have smaller monthly contributions than under 18 male members.”

The gender super gap is a persistent issue, with female Rest members nearing retirement in their 60s facing a gap of approximately 27% compared to their male counterparts. Van Veen believes that addressing the issue from the beginning of a worker's career is crucial. “Changing this law would mean we are taking another step to close this gender super gap for young women from day one of their working life,” she said.

The call for change is supported by a significant portion of Rest's membership base, which includes over 1 million young members under the age of 30, many of whom work in part-time and casual roles. “Every worker under the age of 18 deserves to earn super and receive the benefit of compounding returns no matter how many hours they work,” Van Veen argued. She cited research commissioned by Rest earlier this year, revealing that nearly all Rest members believe it is important for superannuation to apply to all working Australians, regardless of income or hours worked.

The sentiment is echoed by the broader membership, with a survey conducted by the Redbridge Group in early 2025 showing that 98% of Rest members feel superannuation should apply to all working Australians. A strong 71% support making super payable to all workers under the age of 18, regardless of their working hours, with female support slightly higher at 73%.

Van Veen urged the government to consider this change seriously, advocating for a thorough consultation process and a multi-year staged approach to implementation. “We urge the Government to commit to this change and include a thorough consultation process and multi-year staged approach to implementation to ensure the impact to employers is properly considered,” she said.

As the conversation around superannuation reform continues, Rest's proposal highlights the potential for policy changes to address systemic inequalities and improve retirement outcomes for future generations.

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