Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Retail fund brand
Child Care Super keeps its brand through the September 2026 move into Smart Future Trust. The transfer changes investments and fees while preserving existing insurance cover and policy terms.
Check the current joining rules and transfer documents. Existing members remain Child Care Super members after the move.
Closed public sector scheme
CSS is a closed Commonwealth scheme whose benefit depends on more than the investment return shown on a statement.
Relevant to existing contributors, deferred members and pensioners. Some returning employees must or may resume contributing.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
The costs and returns belong to the selected product, option or lifecycle stage.
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.
| What to compare | Child Care Super | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Check the current joining rules and transfer documents. Existing members remain Child Care Super members after the move. Sources12 | Relevant to existing contributors, deferred members and pensioners. Some returning employees must or may resume contributing. Sources12 |
| Accounts and products | Child Care Super accumulation and pension products. Sources12 | Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, including defined benefit and accumulation components. CSS defined benefit CSS accumulation component Sources12 |
| Investment choices | The new menu maps existing holdings to comparable investment options. Members should check the new option's allocation and risk description rather than relying on its predecessor's name. Sources12 | Investment earnings affect the funded component; they are only part of the overall benefit calculation. Sources12 |
| Insurance | Existing cover and policy terms stay the same under the notice. The insurance administration fee rises, increasing the total insurance cost. Sources12 | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. |
| Retirement income | Pension payments continue under the transition arrangements. Some September payments are brought forward and some member-initiated transactions are temporarily unavailable. Sources12 | The main retirement benefit is generally a pension. Age, service, reason for leaving and sometimes final salary affect its calculation. Sources12 |
| Advice and support | Use the current member support and disclosure documents to confirm advice availability, scope and charges. Sources12 | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. |
| Fee details to check | The notice expects lower overall fees for most members, but the effect depends on balance and option. New contributions use Smart Future Trust ABN 68 964 712 340 and USI 68964712340022 from 5 September 2026. Sources12 | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. |
| Comparing investment performance | Compare the post-transfer investment strategy with a genuinely similar alternative. Historical returns require an explanation of the predecessor option. Sources12 | Explain benefits beside other schemes without treating CSS as a fund anyone can join. Sources12 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Relevant to child care workers and existing members who want to understand the changes before comparing another fund.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
For a CSS member, an ordinary fund ranking answers too little. Get a benefit estimate for the actual exit date and compare the pension and lump-sum choices before considering any transfer.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
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 Child Care Super profile · Read the full CSS profile · Choose another comparison
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.