Celebrating 30 years of TelstraSuper
June 28, 2020
This year we celebrate our 30-year anniversary, a period marked by significant change and strong growth.
Established as the Telecom Superannuation Scheme on 1 July 1990, as a result of the privatisation of the Telecom Corporation and the movement of Telecom Corporation staff from Commonwealth super schemes. The fund started with around 20,000 members and has since grown to become one of Australia’s leading profit-to-member funds.
In addition to changing our name and opening membership to family members and former Telstra Group employees, we have a proud history of elite performance and achievement stretching over three decades. As a Platinum rated fund from SuperRatings for the last 15 years, our core purpose has always been to put you, our members, first, and help you achieve your retirement goals while returning the profits to your pockets.
We thought we’d share some of the key milestones for the fund along the way.
| 1990 | The Telecom Superannuation Scheme is established for Telecom employees. |
| 1996 |
The Telecom Superannuation Scheme is renamed the Telstra Superannuation Scheme in line with Telecom's name change to Telstra Corporation Limited. Members can now stay with the fund when they leave employment with a Telstra Corp employer and start with a new job. |
| 1997 | TelstraSuper introduces investment choice to members with accumulation accounts. A choice of four investment options is offered - Growth, Balanced, Protected and Cash, with age-based defaults. |
| 1998 |
Telstra Super Partner Privilege™ is launched to provide superannuation to eligible partners of members. The website www.telstrasuper.com.au is launched |
| 1999 |
RetireAccess® is launched to provide a pension product which members can now transition into when they retire and receive a regular income from. TelstraSuper introduces the Conservative Option for Investment, replacing the Protected Option. |
| 2001 | TelstraSuper introduces the Australian Shares and International Shares investment options. |
| 2002 |
Telstra Super Financial Planning Pty Ltd is established to provide financial planning advice exclusively to TelstraSuper members and their partners. TelstraSuper launches a secure member portal, SuperOnline, for members to manage their super account online. |
| 2004 | TelstraSuper introduces the Property and Fixed Interest investment options. |
| 2005 | SuperRatings awards TelstraSuper a Platinum Rating for 2005/2006. |
| 2007 |
TelstraSuper opens to former Telstra employees and the family of existing TelstraSuper members to the fund. TelstraSuper signs on to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing. |
| 2009 |
TelstraSuper is named one of SuperRatings 2010 Top Ten Super Funds in Australia. SuperRatings awards TelstraSuper its fifth consecutive Platinum Rating for 2010. |
| 2010 |
TelstraSuper announces alliance with leading health fund, HCF, to offer Telstra Super members access to discounted health insurance. Defensive Growth investment option launched. |
| 2012 |
TelstraSuper introduces new, specialised investment option, Diversified Income, designed for members seeking an income stream, while still realising some growth on their initial investment capital. 2012 SuperRatings Super of the Year awarded to TelstraSuper. |
| 2013 |
TelstraSuper MySuper is launched to new members with a lifecycle investment strategy with Growth for members aged under 45, Balanced for members aged 45 to under 65, and Conservative for members aged 65 and over. New investment option, Direct Access, launched to offer members greater control of their super through investment in ASX300 listed shares and a range of term deposits. |
| 2014 | 2014 SuperRatings Super of the Year awarded to TelstraSuper. |
| 2015 | 2015 SuperRatings Super Fund of the Year awarded to TelstraSuper. |
| 2016 |
TelstraSuper ranked Number 1 in Member Survey (NPS) compared to other super funds in the industry. TelstraSuper Financial Planning launches new expanded advice services and phone based advice service introduced. |
| 2017 | New responsive, user-friendly website is launched to coincide with a refreshed brand with new logo. Newly launched website wins Rainmaker Website of the Year in the Max Awards |
| 2018 | TelstraSuper App launches giving members access to their super anytime, anywhere. |
| 2019 | The Retirement Bonus of up to $8,000 launches, paid to eligible members when they start a TelstraSuper RetireAccess Retirement income stream. |
| 2020 | TelstraSuper awarded 15 year Platinum performance by SuperRatings, in recognition of being 'a best value for money' superannuation fund for 15 consecutive years. |