Introduction
Super SA Triple S is the central superannuation scheme for South Australian public sector employees, and this article is your comprehensive guide to understanding how it works. If you are an SA Government worker, this resource is designed specifically for you. We cover everything you need to know about Triple S, including eligibility, how contributions work, investment options (including the Socially Responsible option), fees, insurance, and key strategies for making the most of your super. Understanding Triple S is crucial because it is an untaxed, Exempt Public Sector Super Scheme (EPSSS) with unique tax and investment features that differ from most other Australian super funds. These differences can have a significant impact on your retirement savings, tax outcomes, and financial planning decisions. Whether you are just starting your public sector career or planning for retirement, this guide will help you navigate the complexities of Triple S and make informed choices about your financial future.
This article covers the full scope of Super SA Triple S, including who is eligible to join, how contributions are made, the range of investment options (including a Socially Responsible option), the fees and insurance arrangements, and key strategies for making the most of your super. The target audience is South Australian public sector employees—whether you are new to government employment, mid-career, or approaching retirement. Understanding Triple S matters because it is an untaxed, Exempt Public Sector Super Scheme (EPSSS) with unique tax and investment features that can significantly affect your retirement savings, tax outcomes, and financial planning decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Triple S is the default super scheme for most SA Government employees since 1995, operating as an “untaxed” Exempt Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (EPSSS) where contributions are generally taxed later on withdrawal rather than when they go in.
- Only eligible South Australian public sector workers can join Triple S, including permanent and contract employees of SA Government departments, hospitals, schools, SAPOL, SA Water, and other listed agencies—membership is usually automatic when employment starts.
- The untaxed structure can boost compounding during your working years since no 15% contributions tax is deducted upfront, but this means you may face higher tax when rolling over to another fund or withdrawing benefits.
- Members can choose investment options and adjust insurance, but switching out of Triple S to Super SA Select or external funds can have irreversible consequences and may trigger immediate tax.
- This article is educational, not personal financial advice—readers should review the current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) at www.supersa.sa.gov.au needs to review and seek licensed advice before making major decisions.
Main Features of Super SA Triple S
Super SA Triple S is an untaxed, Exempt Public Sector Super Scheme (EPSSS) and the default super fund for South Australian Government employees since 1995. No tax is deducted from employer or salary sacrifice contributions when they enter your account—tax is generally applied later, when you withdraw or roll over your benefits. Triple S is not a public offer fund; only eligible SA public sector employees can join. Members can choose from seven pre-mixed investment options, including a Socially Responsible (ESG) option.
- Untaxed, Exempt Public Sector Super Scheme (EPSSS): Triple S is an untaxed fund, meaning no tax is deducted from employer or salary sacrifice contributions when they enter your account. Tax is generally applied later, when you withdraw or roll over your benefits.
- Default for SA Government Employees: Triple S has been the default super option for all South Australian Government employees since 1995.
- Not a Public Offer Fund: Only eligible SA public sector employees can join; it is not open to the general public.
- Seven Investment Options: Members can choose from seven pre-mixed investment options, including a Socially Responsible (ESG) option.
- Automatic Membership: An account is automatically opened for eligible employees when they start their SA Government employment.
What Is the Super SA Triple S Fund and Scheme?
Super SA is the superannuation provider established by the South Australian Government to manage retirement savings for public sector employees. With a long history and statutory basis under South Australian legislation, Super SA administers several schemes serving different groups of government workers.
“Triple S” (often written as “Super SA Triple S” or the Southern State Superannuation Scheme) is the default accumulation scheme for most SA Government employees hired from 1 July 1995 onwards. Triple S is officially defined as an Exempt Public Sector Super Scheme (EPSSS) and an untaxed fund—a rare structure in Australia. Unlike retail or industry super funds regulated by APRA, Triple S operates under specific South Australian legislation and is classified as an Exempt Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (EPSSS).
What does EPSSS mean in practice? Triple S is exempt from some Commonwealth regulations but still must meet certain minimum standards. Benefits are generally underpinned by the State rather than being fully funded in the same way as typical commercial super funds.
The defining feature of Triple S is its “untaxed” structure:
- Employer contributions are not taxed at 15% when they enter the fund
- Investment earnings grow without internal tax being deducted
- Tax is generally applied later—when benefits are withdrawn or rolled over to another fund
This structure can increase the amount invested and compounding over time, but may lead to higher tax when leaving public sector employment or retiring.
Triple S serves three main roles for members: building retirement savings through contributions and investment returns, providing default death and TPD insurance, and offering income protection options.
Who Can Join Super SA Triple S?
Super SA is the superannuation provider for public sector employees in South Australia. Triple S is the default super option for all South Australian Government employees since 1995. Membership of Super SA is mandatory for SA government employees, and an account is automatically opened for you when you start your employment.
Triple S is not a public offer fund. It is restricted to eligible South Australian public sector employees and certain related categories defined by SA legislation and employment awards.
The main eligibility groups include:
- Permanent and contract employees of SA Government departments
- Staff of public hospitals and health networks (including SA Health)
- Public school teachers and TAFE SA employees
- SAPOL officers
- SA Water employees
- SA Housing Authority staff
- Employees of other listed government agencies
For most new employees who start after 1 July 1995, Triple S is the default accumulation scheme. Some longer-serving employees may still be in legacy defined benefit schemes such as the Pension Scheme or Lump Sum Scheme, which operate under different rules.
Casual employees and some fixed-term workers may have specific contribution rules. Certain employment arrangements—such as contractors engaged through labour hire firms—might fall outside Super SA entirely and instead receive contributions into a standard MySuper fund under Commonwealth choice-of-fund rules.
Spouse accounts: Eligible Triple S members may be able to open a spouse account within Super SA, subject to current rules. However, spouse accounts may operate under different tax and contribution arrangements than the primary Triple S account.
How Triple S Works: Contributions, Tax and Compounding
Triple S is an accumulation-style account. Your final retirement benefit is the total of contributions plus net investment returns, minus fees and insurance premiums. There is no formula based on final salary or years of service—your balance reflects what has been contributed and how investments have performed.
Employer Contributions
From 1 July 2025, the Superannuation Guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. Some enterprise agreements provide higher rates. In Triple S, these employer contributions are made on an untaxed basis, meaning no 15% contributions tax is deducted when they enter your account.
Member Contributions
You can make:
- Pre-tax contributions (salary sacrifice): Reduces your taxable income before tax is calculated
- After-tax contributions (non-concessional): Made from your take-home pay
Triple S does not apply an internal annual cap on salary sacrifice contributions in the same way as most APRA-regulated funds. This means you may be able to sacrifice well above the standard $30,000 concessional cap—provided you’re not also contributing concessional amounts to another super fund. However, an “untaxed plan cap” applies when you eventually withdraw or roll over your benefits.
Tax Timing in Triple S
Because Triple S is an untaxed scheme:
- Contributions go in without the standard 15% contributions tax
- Investment earnings grow without internal tax
- Tax is generally applied when you roll to a taxed fund or withdraw benefits
When you leave Triple S, the “untaxed element” of your benefit may be subject to:
- A one-off tax on rollover to a taxed fund (typically 15% on amounts up to the untaxed plan cap)
- Higher tax rates if your balance exceeds the untaxed plan cap (currently around $1.865 million, indexed annually)
- The top marginal rate plus Medicare levy on amounts above the cap
If you’re planning large rollovers, redundancy payments, or retirement within the next few years, it may take professional tax advice to optimise your outcome.
Triple S Investment Options, Performance and Performance Security
Triple S members’ money is invested across different asset classes—Australian shares, international shares, property, infrastructure, fixed interest, and cash—with the aim of growing savings over the long term.
Typical Investment Options
- Balanced: Often the default option, typically holding 60–70% growth assets (shares, property) and 30–40% defensive assets (bonds, cash)
- Growth / High Growth: Higher allocation to shares and property for members seeking long-term growth with higher short-term volatility
- Conservative / Capital Defensive: Lower allocation to shares, aiming for steadier returns with less fluctuation
- Cash: Lowest risk, lowest expected return
- Socially Responsible / ESG-style option: May exclude certain industries or favour sustainable investments
Choosing the Right Option
The “right” option depends on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and personal circumstances. Younger members with decades until retirement may be comfortable with higher-risk options, while those approaching retirement often prefer more defensive settings.
Fees, Costs and Insurance in Triple S
While Triple S aims to offer competitive fees compared with other Australian funds, all fees and insurance premiums still reduce investment returns and should be understood by members.
Main Types of Fees
Fee Type | Description |
|---|---|
Administration fee | Percentage of account balance plus possible fixed dollar fee |
Investment management fee | Expressed as an indirect cost ratio (ICR) |
Transaction costs | Buy/sell spreads when switching options |
As an example, a Balanced option on a $50,000 balance might attract total fees around 0.5%–0.6% per annum—but actual fees must be checked in the latest Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination found on the Super SA website.
Insurance in Triple S
Triple S members are typically provided:
- Death cover(life insurance): Pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die
- Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover: Pays a lump sum if you become permanently unable to work
- Income Protection / Salary Continuance: Pays up to 75% of your notional salary if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury
Insurance in super is usually provided on a group basis, which can be cheaper than retail cover for some members. Cover may start automatically at a default level when you join, with options to increase, reduce, or cancel—but cancelling may leave you underinsured.
Check your benefit statement or online account to see your current cover and premiums. Consider life stage needs (new mortgage, dependants) and consult a licensed adviser before making significant changes.
Super SA Triple S vs Super SA Select and Other Options
Some members can choose between staying in Triple S (untaxed) or moving to Super SA Select (a taxed accumulation fund). In some circumstances, you may also have the option to contribute to or transfer benefits into external MySuper or retail/industry funds.
What Is Super SA Select?
Super SA Select is a taxed accumulation fund launched in 2013. It is designed to align more closely with Commonwealth tax and superannuation rules, where contributions are normally taxed at 15% when they go in—similar to other Australian super funds.
Key Structural Differences
Feature | Triple S (Untaxed) | Super SA Select (Taxed) |
|---|---|---|
Contributions tax | Not taxed on entry | 15% on entry |
Tax on exit/rollover | Taxed on exit | Simpler rollovers |
Structure | EPSSS, SA legislation | More like standard fund |
Portability | Limited | Easier to roll to other funds |
Important: Members can generally move from Triple S to Super SA Select (subject to current rules), but moving back to Triple S is typically not allowed. Switching should be considered carefully with advice. | ||
Some members may consider external funds for specific features—such as specialist ESG options, platform flexibility, or particular insurance terms. However, leaving or reducing contributions to Triple S can change employer contribution patterns and benefit structures, so professional advice is important. |
Why You Should Work With Triple S Specialists Like MoneyPath
Triple S is a powerful but technically complex super environment. The untaxed structure, contribution flexibility, and unique tax rules create both opportunities and pitfalls that most general financial planners are not equipped to navigate.
MoneyPath specialises in public sector super schemes and can help you:
- Understand CPF, salary sacrifice, and lifetime cap rules – The untaxed plan cap (currently around $1.865 million) means large balances can trigger 47% tax on the excess. MoneyPath models your accumulation path to avoid costly surprises.
- Tailor the right investment portfolio to your goals and profile – Whether you’re a young SAPOL recruit focused on growth or a senior executive approaching retirement, your investment mix should reflect your risk tolerance and time horizon.
- Optimise contributions for long-term compounding – With no internal annual cap on salary sacrifice, there’s potential to compress taxable income and accelerate wealth building—but only if structured correctly.
- Reduce tax across both accumulation and retirement – MoneyPath helps you time rollovers, manage untaxed elements, and structure withdrawals to minimise lifetime tax.
- Plan for a smooth transition into pension/income phase – Moving from Triple S to a taxed fund or retirement income product involves complex trade-offs. MoneyPath ensures you don’t leave money on the table.
- Model retirement with accurate, personalised projections – Generic calculators can’t account for Triple S’s unique tax rules. MoneyPath provides projections tailored to your exact situation.
- Blend Triple S with APRA-regulated funds effectively – If you also hold super outside Triple S, coordination is essential to avoid breaching contribution caps or triggering excess tax.
- Manage Division 293 exposure for high-income earners – If you earn over $250,000, you may face additional super tax. MoneyPath helps you plan around this.
- Navigate Centrelink implications when nearing Age Pension age – Super balances affect Age Pension eligibility. MoneyPath models the interaction between Triple S, other assets, and Centrelink.
- Receive ongoing oversight as rules and thresholds change – Super law evolves constantly. MoneyPath monitors your strategy and adjusts as regulations shift.
Working with a Triple S specialist can mean the difference between a comfortable retirement and years of unnecessary tax or missed opportunities.
Risks, Benefits and Strategy Considerations
Triple S, like any super arrangement, involves trade-offs between risk, reward, tax timing, and flexibility. Understanding these can help you make more informed decisions.
Potential Benefits
- Untaxed structure may enhance compounding during employment
- Competitive group-fee structure
- Investment diversification across asset classes
- Default insurance (death, TPD, income protection)
- Integration with SA public sector employment conditions
Key Risks and Drawbacks
- Tax often paid later, sometimes at higher marginal or lump-sum rates
- Limited eligibility and dependence on ongoing SA Government employment
- Complexity of tax rules when exiting or rolling over
- Possibility of investment losses in market downturns
Example Scenarios
- Young SAPOL recruit in their 20s: Focused on long-term growth, may consider higher-risk investment options. Time is on their side, and volatility matters less over a 40-year horizon. The key is to start contributing consistently and review the security of your connection to Super SA’s portal regularly.
- Mid-career teacher in their 40s: Exploring salary sacrifice to boost retirement savings and reviewing insurance cover as family responsibilities change. May need to complete a form to update beneficiaries or adjust insurance. When accessing the Super SA portal, if you see a screen verifying you are human or showing a ray id, this is normal performance security—just wait for verification successful before proceeding, which may take a few seconds.
- Late-career senior public servant in their early 60s: Planning the timing of retirement and balancing tax outcomes between staying in Triple S or rolling to a taxed fund. May need to review the security of their connection before proceeding with sensitive transactions. Decisions at this stage can have significant tax implications and warrant professional advice.
All strategy content in this article is educational and generic. Consult a licensed financial planner familiar with public sector schemes before implementing complex strategies.
Regulation, Governance and Review the Security of Member Protections
Triple S is governed under South Australian legislation rather than the usual Commonwealth Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act framework. However, it is still required to act in the interests of members and meet prudential standards set out by the State.
Oversight and Governance
Super SA is overseen by a Board reporting to the South Australian Treasurer. The Board is responsible for:
- Setting investment strategy
- Appointing investment managers and administrators
- Overseeing risk management across all schemes
Member assets are typically held in trust or under statutory arrangements on behalf of members, with independent custodian services for investments and regular external audits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the main features of Super SA Triple S?
Triple S is an untaxed, Exempt Public Sector Super Scheme (EPSSS) and the default super fund for South Australian Government employees since 1995. No tax is deducted from employer or salary sacrifice contributions when they enter your account—tax is generally applied later, when you withdraw or roll over your benefits. Triple S is not a public offer fund; only eligible SA public sector employees can join. Members can choose from seven pre-mixed investment options, including a Socially Responsible (ESG) option.
Can I choose a different super fund instead of Super SA Triple S while I am employed by the South Australian Government?
Many SA public sector awards and enterprise agreements direct mandatory employer contributions into Triple S or another Super SA scheme. This means choice of fund may be limited during employment. Legislative changes from 2022 onwards may gradually increase choice for some employees, but you must check your specific contract, award, and current Super SA guidance to confirm your options.
What happens to my Triple S account if I move interstate and work for a private employer?
When you leave SA Government employment, you may be able to keep your existing Triple S balance in the scheme, but you cannot usually continue to receive employer contributions. You’ll typically need to nominate a new fund for your new employer’s contributions. You may later consider rolling your Triple S balance into a taxed fund, but be mindful of untaxed-element tax and the untaxed plan cap.
Is the money in my Triple S account guaranteed by the South Australian Government?
While Triple S is a State-run scheme and benefits are underpinned by government legislation, investment returns are not guaranteed. Balances can go up or down with market performance. Members bear investment risk and should choose options aligned with their risk tolerance and time horizon.
Can I access my Triple S super early if I have financial hardship or compassionate grounds?
Triple S generally follows Commonwealth preservation rules. Benefits are preserved until you reach preservation age and meet a condition of release. Early access is only possible in limited circumstances—such as severe financial hardship or specified compassionate grounds—and strict criteria apply. You must apply through Super SA with evidence, and approval is not automatic.
How often should I review my Triple S investments and insurance?
Review at least every year, and also after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, taking on a large mortgage, significant pay rises, illness, or approaching retirement. Investment switches and insurance changes can have long-term consequences and may warrant professional advice.
