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Child Care Super vs PSS

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

Child Care Super

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.

Membership

Check the current joining rules and transfer documents. Existing members remain Child Care Super members after the move.

PSS

Closed public sector scheme

PSS is a closed defined benefit scheme for eligible Australian Government employees.

Membership

Existing contributors and preserved members retain scheme-specific rights. Limited re-entry rules can apply when returning to eligible employment.

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.

Choose an investment option to see the figures

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.

How the products differ

Child Care Super and PSS: product features and conditions
What to compareChild Care SuperPSS
Membership and access

Check the current joining rules and transfer documents. Existing members remain Child Care Super members after the move.

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Existing contributors and preserved members retain scheme-specific rights. Limited re-entry rules can apply when returning to eligible employment.

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Accounts and products

Child Care Super accumulation and pension products.

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Public Sector Superannuation Scheme. This is different from PSSap.

PSS defined benefit

Preserved benefit

Eligible PSSap ancillary account

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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.

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Contributors use the default fund. Preserved members can choose Default or Cash for funded amounts.

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Insurance

Existing cover and policy terms stay the same under the notice. The insurance administration fee rises, increasing the total insurance cost.

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Contributing members receive built-in death and invalidity cover, subject to scheme conditions.

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Retirement income

Pension payments continue under the transition arrangements. Some September payments are brought forward and some member-initiated transactions are temporarily unavailable.

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Eligible benefits may be paid as an indexed pension, a lump sum or a combination.

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Advice and support

Use the current member support and disclosure documents to confirm advice availability, scope and charges.

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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.

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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.

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Do not rank the defined benefit using accumulation investment returns.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Child Care Super

Editorial assessment

Relevant to child care workers and existing members who want to understand the changes before comparing another fund.

What deserves a closer look

  • The account transfer is scheduled for 12 September 2026 and completion for 14 September, after this 11 September review.
  • SuperSuper is closed to members who had not activated it by 10 September 2026; do not advertise it as an unrestricted new-member benefit.

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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 PSS

Editorial assessment

Contribution choices and retirement timing can matter more here than a published investment return. A benefit estimate tied to your employment history is the useful starting point.

Who this profile is for

  • Existing PSS members considering contributions, preservation or retirement.

What deserves a closer look

  • PSS and PSSap should never be combined into one comparison entry.
  • Opting out has scheme-specific consequences and does not necessarily release preserved benefits.

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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 Child Care Super and PSS

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 PSS profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Child Care Super

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. September 2026 transfer and current product details
  2. Current news and service notices

Sources for PSS

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. CSC PSS overview
  2. CSC membership eligibility