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Media Super vs Perpetual Select

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

Media Super

Industry fund brand

Media Super remains the super brand for print, media, entertainment, arts and other creative industries within Cbus.

Membership

The brand serves its creative-industry community and eligible members under its current products.

Perpetual Select

Retail fund

Perpetual Select offers a focused menu of diversified and single-sector investments for super and retirement.

Membership

Personal super is offered to employees and self-employed people. The published minimum initial investment is $3,000, with separate arrangements for a savings 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.

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

Media Super and Perpetual Select: product features and conditions
What to compareMedia SuperPerpetual Select
Membership and access

The brand serves its creative-industry community and eligible members under its current products.

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Personal super is offered to employees and self-employed people. The published minimum initial investment is $3,000, with separate arrangements for a savings plan.

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Accounts and products

Media Super branded super and retirement products issued within Cbus.

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Select Super Plan and Pension Plan; older term allocated pension accounts have separate restrictions.

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Investment choices

Use the current Media Super investment menu. Historic Media Super options are not independent portfolios that remain available alongside Cbus after the merger.

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The menu covers diversified, Australian-share, international-share and cash choices. The Diversified and High Growth super options closed on 23 April 2026.

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Insurance

Insurance terms are product-specific. Creative workers with contract, freelance or irregular work should read the income and employment definitions in their own guide.

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Optional death, disability and salary-continuance cover is available under the insurance disclosure.

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Retirement income

Check the current Media Super retirement product documents and default strategy. Compare retirement returns with retirement returns.

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Account-based and transition-to-retirement pension arrangements are available; the term allocated pension is closed to new investors.

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Advice and support

The current site provides advice resources and member assistance. A personal plan needs an explicit scope and fee check.

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Members can select options themselves or seek advice. A manager's diversified option still needs to match the member's risk tolerance.

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Fee details to check

Use the post-merger Media Super schedule. Its published merger explanation describes investment fee savings but does not mean every historical fee applies today.

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Read the June 2026 PDS with the additional fees-and-costs information. Investment charges, spreads, administration, insurance and advice may all apply.

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Comparing investment performance

Read the pre- and post-merger history note before comparing a long-run Media Super return. Show when an investment strategy changed.

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Check the option's current underlying fund and investment arrangements before treating a long historical return as an unchanged strategy.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Media Super

Editorial assessment

A useful comparison for people in creative industries who value that industry connection and want to check the actual insurance and investment terms.

What deserves a closer look

  • Media Super and Cbus share a legal fund, so do not portray their comparison as two independent trustees.
  • Do not carry a pre-April 2022 option or fee into a current comparison.

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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 Perpetual Select

Editorial assessment

May suit someone who wants managed diversification or selected sector exposure from the Select range.

What deserves a closer look

  • Some product pages still describe options that closed in April 2026.
  • The June 2026 disclosure takes precedence over older descriptions of the trustee's investment role.

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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 Media Super and Perpetual Select

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 Media Super profile · Read the full Perpetual Select profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Media Super

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

  1. Media Super
  2. Investment changes after merger
  3. Cbus merger and brand background
  4. Annual reports

Sources for Perpetual Select

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

  1. Current Select product changes
  2. Select features and eligibility
  3. Terminated investment options