On 31 October 2008, the Government announced that the trustee boards of Australian Reward Investment Alliance (ARIA), the Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSBS) and the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme (DFRDB) will merge to form a single trustee board from 1 July 2010.

While AvSuper shares many similarities with some of the affected super funds, we are not a Government super fund and we are therefore unaffected by these changes.
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Member statements are currently being finalised and will be issued to AvSuper members very soon, together with a copy of our latest Annual Trustee Report to Members.  If you haven’t received yours by the end of October 2008, please contact us and let us know

Have you been thinking about financial advice and planning services to help you with your super and other investments?

For individual financial planning needs, AvSuper currently offers members free initial, no-obligation consultations through our partnership with Outlook Financial Solutions. Consultations may include

• a general discussion regarding your personal financial circumstances
• discussion and education on factual information that impacts your decision making on your superannuation and/or pension assets, as well as insurance options
• an opportunity for you to gain a greater understanding of the advice services that are available to you
• the collection of important information to initiate any future advice process the identification of any specific financial issues or concerns
• discussion and agreement regarding your financial goals

Professional representatives from Outlook will be available on-site in our Canberra office on Wednesday 22nd October and Thursday 23rd October to answer any questions you might have about the current economic climate, financial planning and advice services or your own personal situation.  Appointments are limited, so please contact us to secure your place.  If you are not based in Canberra but would like to meet with a financial adviser, including in other areas of Australia (or even by phone), please contact us for a referral.  Alternatively you can contact Outlook directly on 1300 657 879 - and mention that you are an AvSuper member.

There is no doubt that financial markets across the world are undergoing a lot of change and stress this year. Just recently, for instance, the US Federal Reserve has agreed to loan money to the AIG insurance group and the Lehman Brothers investment bank has recently filed for bankruptcy.  Unfortunately, it is possible that these changes and movements will continue for some months to come.

This instability is, of course, affecting the investment market in Australia as well, and super funds have not been exempt from the fallout.

AvSuper’s Trustee is continuing to monitor the financial situation and its impact on AvSuper investments, and will make any adjustments that are seen appropriate. However, given the long term nature of super, the current volatile market is unlikely to have a major impact on the retirement savings of many AvSuper members.

We will keep you informed about any impact on our investments and any decisions we make in response to the moving market, but please contact us if you have any immediate concerns.

David Leggo

Chairman, AvSuper

The AvSuper Trustee has recently completed a review of our investment strategies, including the utilisation of securities lending.

We are happy with the progress of our investments, given the current volatile market, and are continue to focus on positioning AvSuper to take advantage of other opportunities that will almost certainly arise as markets rebound.

For information about securities lending and how AvSuper approaches this process, please refer to our fact sheet .

Michelle Griffiths,
CEO AvSuper

The AvSuper Trustee would like to congratulate one of the Fund’s investment managers, Investor Select Advisors, for being recognised as the “Best Fund of Funds” based on their investment performance and management over the last 3 years in alternative investments last week.
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Along with our website, AvSuper’s bulletin (our quarterly newsletter) has also had a refresh! It is designed to be easy to read, with short pieces to keep you informed about your super.

This edition of the bulletin includes information about insurance cover, changed co-contribution limits and an overview of the latest investment returns.

Many members are receiving this edition via email instead of snail mail as a way of reducing the paper on your desk and our impact on the environment. If you would like your next copy of the bulletin emailed to you, please email us at avsinfo@avsuper.com.au with ‘emailed bulletin’ as the subject

Self Employed? In order to claim a tax deduction for personal contributions made since 1 July 2007, you need to complete a form.

As a self-employed person, you don’t have to pay yourself super under the Superannuation Guarantee, but you can claim a tax deduction for any contributions to your super account.

Personal contributions that you claim deductions for will be taxed at 15% and preserved, and do not count towards a co-contribution entitlement. Please contact your accountant or the ATO for specific details about your individual needs.

Claiming deductions

Before you submit your tax return to claim a deduction for any super contributions you may have made, you must submit a Deduction for personal super contributions form (available from the ATO website.)

The completed form must be sent to us at

AvSuper Admin
PO Box 5134,
Sydney, NSW 2001

Or faxed to (02) 9372 6574.

You must submit the form before the end of the following financial year to be able to claim a deduction.

We will send you an acknowledgment of the form which you can provide as part of your tax information.

AvSuper and the self-employed

As an AvSuper accumulation member, you can claim a deduction as long as no more than 10% of your total income comes from an employer. This includes Public Offer, Spouse and ASA/CASA sponsored members.

Did you know that AvSuper members can make self-employed contributions? If you are thinking of making self-employed contributions, read about our public offer section in our PDS to see if it suits your needs, or contact us for more information.

I am delighted to welcome Ms Christin Turnbull to AvSuper in her capacity as the Fund’s Administration Manager.

As Administration Manager, Christin will be be responsible for supervising the efficient operation and administration of AvSuper, including monitoring AvSuper’s external administration service providers and insurers. Her strong superannuation background, client service focus and administration experience make her a worthy addition to the team.

On behalf of the AvSuper team, I welcome Christin and wish her well in her new role.

Michelle Griffiths
CEO, AvSuper

Welcome to the new look AvSuper website!

Many of you told us that our website was difficult to navigate and that we should make it easier for you to find the information you need about AvSuper, and our products and services. Well, we heard you and we carefully considered your comments - and now we’ve made some changes in response to your feedback.

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If you are eligible, the Government’s co-contribution scheme is a great way to increase your super savings by up to $1,500.

To qualify for a Government co-contribution this financial year, you must make a personal contribution to AvSuper before 30 June 2008
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