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Australian Food Super vs Aware Super

Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.

By SuperGuru Group · Research checked 11 September 2026 · Historical APRA figures to 30 June 2026

Australian Food Super

Industry fund

Australian Food Super is the current name of AMIST Super. It has meat-industry roots and is now open to everyone.

Membership

Anyone can join, subject to product rules. People can remain members when they leave the meat industry.

Aware Super

Industry fund

Aware Super uses a Lifecycle default in its Future Saver account and offers retirement income accounts, investment choice and several levels of advice.

Membership

Public membership is available. Some former scheme members, including defined-benefit and employer groups, need the documents for their own plan.

Compare fees and investment returns

Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.

APRA product data to 30 June 2026
MeasureMySuperChoose an investment option
Return basisMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative memberChoose an option
3-year return, per year6.77%Choose an option
5-year return, per year6.02%Choose an option
7-year return, per year6.52%Choose an option
10-year return, per year7.14%Choose an option
APRA strategic growth allocation68.25%Choose an option
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000$440 a year (0.88%)Choose an option
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)$125 a yearChoose an option
2026 performance testPassChoose an option
New-member status at reporting dateCheck the current product eligibility rulesCheck the current product eligibility rules

Source: APRA Comprehensive Product Performance Package 2026, published 28 August 2026. Fees reflect the reporting year to 30 June 2026, are net of tax, use standard arrangements and exclude member-activity fees. Dollar figures are rounded. They are not a current quote. Check the latest PDS for changes, insurance premiums and any separately charged advice.

Returns are annualised historical results. Different return bases, risk levels and periods cannot be treated as interchangeable. MySuper net returns use a $50,000 representative balance even when you change the fee balance. A lifecycle stage return does not track a person moving between stages. Missing figures mean not reported, not zero. Past returns do not predict future returns. Read our method and APRA's definitions.

How the products differ

Australian Food Super and Aware Super: product features and conditions
What to compareAustralian Food SuperAware Super
Membership and access

Anyone can join, subject to product rules. People can remain members when they leave the meat industry.

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Public membership is available. Some former scheme members, including defined-benefit and employer groups, need the documents for their own plan.

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Accounts and products

Superannuation and pension products.

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Future Saver public accumulation account; restricted legacy and employer arrangements are separate.

Future Saver

Retirement Income

Retirement Transition

Legacy defined-benefit arrangements

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Investment choices

The fund has MySuper and Choice investments. Pension members can access the Choice menu but not the MySuper option.

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MySuper Lifecycle

Future Saver members who do not choose an investment option use MySuper Lifecycle, which changes the mix with age. Members can choose diversified or single-asset-class investments instead. The retirement-account default is Conservative Balanced, rather than the accumulation Lifecycle approach.

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Insurance

Members can opt in to life, TPD and income protection cover. Check eligibility and the current insurer documents, especially for manual work or changing employment.

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Death, TPD and income protection cover are available through TAL policies, subject to eligibility. Basic Cover comprises death and TPD; other cover can require an application. NSW Police and Ambulance officers have special arrangements and should use their own insurance handbooks.

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Retirement income

Australian Food Super Pension provides an account-based income product. Compare its fee and investment documents separately from accumulation super.

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Retirement Income is the account-based pension product. Retirement Transition is for eligible members accessing super while working and automatically becomes Retirement Income at age 65. Members can keep the Conservative Balanced default or choose their own investment mix.

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Advice and support

The fund has engaged Retire360 to provide advice. Confirm which assistance is included and what a more detailed personal plan costs.

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Aware offers help about its accounts, personal retirement advice and broader financial advice. Advice about Aware accounts can be available at no extra cost, while broader advice has a fee. Confirm what the service covers before relying on it for decisions involving other assets or another fund.

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Fee details to check

Use the current product disclosure and member guide for the option and account type. Include insurance premiums in a personal comparison.

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Compare the fee for the actual Lifecycle age allocation or chosen option. A retirement account and Future Saver can have different administration and investment costs, so the accumulation total should not be carried into a pension comparison.

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Comparing investment performance

Compare the published MySuper or Choice option over identical dates and distinguish pension from accumulation results.

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A Lifecycle comparison must match the member's age and the relevant investment mix. Conservative Balanced pension results and Future Saver results differ in investment strategy and tax treatment; a single brand-level return would obscure those differences.

Compare Future Saver's Lifecycle for the same age, and compare retirement accounts separately.

Check whether advice being compared is general guidance, personal advice about the fund, or broader financial planning.

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Former names and account history

This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

First State Super: Renamed Aware Super in September 2020.

StatePlus: Former advice and retirement brand, acquired by First State Super in 2016 and rebranded in 2020; do not confuse with State Super NSW defined benefit schemes.

TelstraSuper: Heritage TelstraSuper accounts moved to Aware Super, with new arrangements from 1 May 2026; heritage insurance terms remain account-specific.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Australian Food Super

Editorial assessment

Worth comparing for food-industry workers who want to investigate occupation-specific insurance and a conventional super-and-pension offering.

What deserves a closer look

  • AMIST is an old name for the same offering, not another current competing fund.
  • Do not confuse it with Meat Employees' Industry Superannuation Fund, which is a different scheme.

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Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Aware Super

Editorial assessment

Aware is worth examining if you want investment management and help with retirement decisions in the same place. The change from an accumulation Lifecycle default to a Conservative Balanced retirement default deserves a close look: it is a meaningful change in how your money is invested, not just a new account name.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • People who prefer an age-based default and want access to advice.
  • Members planning a gradual transition into retirement.
  • Former public-sector members who need help checking retained scheme or insurance terms.

What deserves a closer look

  • The default investment path is based on age rather than a complete view of your finances.
  • Police, Ambulance and legacy defined-benefit terms must be checked separately.
  • Transferring insurance requires acceptance. Aware says not to cancel existing cover until it confirms acceptance and the new start date.

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Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

Before choosing between Australian Food Super and Aware Super

Use the membership rules to establish which accounts are available to you. Then compare the total price of the investment option and cover you need. A lower fee or higher historical return alone does not tell you which fund is suitable.

Ask both funds to confirm insurance acceptance, exclusions, waiting periods and whether cover would change when you leave your employer. Obtain advice before giving up a defined benefit or an insurance policy you may not be able to replace. ASIC Moneysmart explains the comparison checks.

Read the full Australian Food Super profile · Read the full Aware Super profile · Choose another comparison