superguru
MenuClose menu

ESSSuper vs Team 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

ESSSuper

Restricted public sector fund

ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan serves eligible Victorian emergency services and State Super members, including their spouses.

Membership

The March 2026 PDS identifies current or former Victorian emergency services employees, State Super members and eligible spouses or de facto partners.

Team Super

Industry fund

Team Super is the fund formed from Mine Super and TWUSUPER. Its specialist focus is transport, energy and mining.

Membership

The fund serves workers in its core industries and other eligible members. Former Mine and TWUSUPER members should check their current division and insurance documents.

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

ESSSuper and Team Super: product features and conditions
What to compareESSSuperTeam Super
Membership and access

The March 2026 PDS identifies current or former Victorian emergency services employees, State Super members and eligible spouses or de facto partners.

Sources1

The fund serves workers in its core industries and other eligible members. Former Mine and TWUSUPER members should check their current division and insurance documents.

Sources12345
Accounts and products

This profile focuses on the ESSSuper Accumulation Plan; defined benefit memberships require separate calculations.

Accumulation Plan

Separate ESSSuper defined benefit schemes

Sources1

Superannuation, pre-retirement pension and account-based pension.

Sources12345
Investment choices

Balanced Growth Managed

The PDS lists ten options: eight diversified portfolios plus Shares Only and Cash. The default has a ten-year suggested investment timeframe and a High risk rating.

Sources1

Pre-mixed and single-asset options let members build their own mix. Pension and super defaults follow the rules for their particular account, rather than a single default being suitable for every member.

Sources12345
Insurance

Eligible members can access death-only, death and TPD, or income protection insurance.

Sources1

Insurance divisions reflect the industries the fund serves. The merger included premium and definition changes, so a pre-merger quote is not enough to compare current cover.

Sources12345
Comparing investment performance

Use the Accumulation Plan PDS when comparing market investment options.

Sources1

Read the option history carefully around the merger and any strategy changes. A long record can include a predecessor portfolio and is not automatically the record of every former TWUSUPER option.

Sources12345
Retirement income

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

Both pre-retirement and account-based pensions are available, with their own investment and fee disclosures.

Sources12345
Advice and support

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

Team offers a complimentary initial appointment. Advice on how the account is invested is available at no extra cost; other personal advice has separate fees.

Sources12345
Fee details to check

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

The merger page advertises a fixed super administration charge of 75 cents a week. Add any percentage administration charge, investment costs, transaction costs and insurance from the current super PDS. Pension fees use a different schedule.

Sources12345

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on ESSSuper

Editorial assessment

The accumulation account can complement a defined benefit. Compare each part on its own terms: investment choices and costs for accumulation, benefit rules for the defined benefit.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • Eligible emergency services and State Super members wanting an accumulation account, and eligible partners.

What deserves a closer look

  • Membership is restricted.
  • The default's name does not make it low risk.
  • An accumulation account's return does not measure a member's defined benefit.

Sources1

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 Team Super

Editorial assessment

A relevant comparison for workers whose occupation makes insurance definitions, exclusions and claims support especially important.

What deserves a closer look

  • Compare the insurance division that would cover your actual job.
  • The fixed weekly fee is only one part of total cost; it should not be used as a total-fee headline.

Sources12345

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

Before choosing between ESSSuper and Team 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 ESSSuper profile · Read the full Team Super profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for ESSSuper

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

  1. ESSSuper Accumulation Plan PDS, 1 March 2026

Sources for Team Super

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

  1. Completed merger
  2. Investment options
  3. Financial advice
  4. Significant event notices
  5. Pension fees