Every working holiday maker who has been employed in Australia is entitled to superannuation contributions from their employer. That money accumulates in a super fund account throughout your time in the country, and when you leave Australia, you can apply to withdraw it. Before you do, you need to know how much is there — and checking your balance is simpler than most people expect.
Why checking your super matters
Superannuation is paid by your employer in addition to your wages. You do not see it on your bank statement — it goes directly into your super fund account. This means it is easy to lose track of how much has been paid, or even whether it has been paid at all.
Employers are required to pay super on a quarterly basis. The payment dates are 28 January, 28 April, 28 July, and 28 October. Contributions made on those dates will typically appear in your super account within a few days. If months pass without any contributions appearing, your employer may not be paying what they owe.
Checking your balance regularly means you can catch problems early — while you are still in the country and can take action.
Your super fund account
When you started work in Australia, your employer should have asked you for your super fund details. If you had an existing fund, contributions went there. If you did not nominate a fund, your employer was required to open a default fund account on your behalf.
Your super fund will have sent you a member number and login details when your account was opened, either by email or post. If you did not receive these, contact your fund directly — they can verify your identity and provide your account details.
Once you have your login, you can view your current balance, see a history of contributions, and confirm that payments have been arriving at the expected intervals.
What if you do not know which fund you are with?
This is common, especially for working holiday makers who have changed jobs and may have had multiple super fund accounts opened for them. If you are unsure which fund or funds hold your super, a registered tax agent can assist you in locating all accounts associated with your TFN.
It is worth doing this well before you plan to leave Australia. Tracking down super fund details from overseas is possible but significantly more complicated, and delays can affect when your DASP withdrawal is processed.
Checking for unpaid super
If you log into your super fund and find that contributions have not been appearing, first check the quarterly payment schedule. If a quarter has passed and nothing has arrived, raise it with your employer first. If the employer does not resolve it, you can report unpaid super to the ATO, which investigates these cases and can recover missing contributions on your behalf.
Unpaid super is unfortunately common in industries like hospitality and agriculture. Catching it early gives you the best chance of recovering what you are owed before you leave.
Before you apply for DASP
Before submitting your Departing Australia Superannuation Payment application, make sure all contributions have arrived in your account. Super is paid quarterly, so if you leave shortly after a quarter ends, the final contribution from that quarter may not yet appear in your account. Submit your DASP application only once all expected contributions are showing — otherwise, you may leave money behind that is difficult to recover later.
Need help?
Ready to withdraw your super before leaving Australia?
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