AUTUMN Member News

Transcription

1 AUTUMN 2014 Member News

2 AUTUMN EDITION 2014 Contents Five minutes with Michael 3 Investment update 4 Changes to insurance arrangements 6 VicSuper partners with The Future 7 Economy Group VicSuper is on the move! 8 Planning made easy 9 Meet our Traralgon Advice Centre Manager 10 Access your super from your mobile 11 Maximise your super balance 12 Super Woman Money Program 13 Important news at VicSuper 14 Exclusive member rewards 16 Welcome to your Autumn 2014 edition of VicSuper Member News! There s plenty of activity at VicSuper at the moment so the theme for this Member News is VicSuper - on the move. In this edition you ll find an update about important changes to your insurance arrangements, an investment update, some great ideas on how to maximise your super balance and how we are moving VicSuper s head office and Melbourne Advice Centre to a more sustainable building. You can also find out about how VicSuper has set up serviced offices in a number of regional centres to help make our super advice services available to more Victorians and how VicSuper is partnering with the Future Economy Group to help develop a strong and vibrant Victorian economy. We love to hear from you, so if you have any comments on this edition or topics you would like to see in future editions of Member News, please give us your feedback. We hope you enjoy reading your Member News Autumn Features Five minutes with Michael Our Chief Executive, Michael Dundon wraps up what s been happening in super and talks about recent and upcoming developments at VicSuper. VicSuper is on the move! We are excited to announce that VicSuper s Head Office will be moving from 90 Collins Street to 171 Collins Street. 2 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014 Access your super from your mobile Did you know you can check your account balance, transactions and investments from a mobile friendly website?

3 Five minutes with Michael It s hard to believe it s May already and we are fast approaching the end of another financial year. Financial markets have been strong this year so why not check out VicSuper s investment performance for the 12 months to 30 April 2014 on our website. Insurance Update for VicSuper FutureSaver members We will soon be making a number of important changes to the insurance arrangements that are currently available to you as a member of the fund. VicSuper s insurance arrangements are reviewed regularly and under our insurance policy with AMP, a review is due on 1 July As part of our regular reviews we aim to ensure that our insurance offering remains competitive and sustainable over the long-term. The 2014 review has been a particularly tough one. The insurance industry is currently going through a challenging time, with insurers and reinsurers making significant losses in recent years on their group insurance arrangements. These losses, combined with other pressures, have resulted in significant increases in premiums for funds across the industry. Unfortunately VicSuper is not immune from these pressures and subsequently premiums for our insurance cover will be increasing from 1 July These changes are explained further in your Member News and we ve produced an Insurance Update flyer for you to read through. I would encourage you to read this document to understand how these changes will impact you. I am pleased to advise that in January this year we launched VicSuper Mobile, a site designed specifically for people on the move. VicSuper Mobile allows you to quickly and easily login to your VicSuper account from your mobile device. Making super retirement planning easier VicSuper remains committed to helping Victorians make informed decisions about their retirement savings. We currently provide super advice services to our members through our network of five Victorian advice centres located in Bendigo, Blackburn, Geelong, Melbourne CBD and Traralgon. We are pleased to announce that we are now making our super advice services even more accessible to members by providing you with the opportunity to meet with a qualified VicSuper financial planner at one of our new serviced offices in Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, Wodonga and Wonthaggi. Enjoy your Member News I hope you enjoy reading about these updates and other interesting articles in this edition of Member News. Going Mobile VicSuper is continually looking at ways to use new technology to help make managing super easier and more enjoyable, so a key objective of VicSuper for 2014 is to provide the best online services we can for members. Michael Dundon Chief Executive 3 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014 VicSuper Member News Autumn

4 Investment update Introducing Alternatives as a new asset class From 1 January 2014, VicSuper s private equity investments (previously a sub-asset class within the Equities asset class), were reclassified as part of a new asset class labelled Alternatives. VicSuper views alternatives as non-traditional assets, which should be less correlated with market risk than the more traditional listed equities and fixed interest investments. In effect, the rationale for adding alternatives to a portfolio is to enhance diversification benefits and improve overall risk-adjusted returns. While this reclassification has had no impact on investment management and performance, further sub-asset classes may be added to Alternatives in the future. Chart 1 shows the strategic asset allocation from 1 January 2014 across VicSuper s diversified investment options. Chart 1: VicSuper investment option strategic asset allocation Chart 1 highlights our diversified investment options given they are invested in more than one asset class. The Cash (100% invested in cash), Term Deposit (100% cash) and Australian Shares (100% Equities) investment options are not diversified. 4 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

5 Investment manager appointments Additional investment in Private Equity Last year, VicSuper committed to adopt an opportunistic approach to further investment in private equity, meaning we will only commit to the most compelling limited partnerships / private equity funds. In line with this commitment, VicSuper invested in the Performance Venture Capital Fund III (PVC III) managed by Private Equity Management (PEM). PVC III is a fund of funds venture capital fund which will seek to invest in early-stage and late stage private equity. Note VicSuper previously invested in PVC II a 2008 vintage, venture capital fund of funds also managed by PEM. Additional investment in Timberland In February 2014, VicSuper increased its investment in Timberland by funding the Stafford International Timberland Fund VII. Previous Timberland investments include Stafford IV (December 2006/June 2007), V (June 2008) and VI (May 2012). Given continued growth in the VicSuper Fund and the return of capital from existing Timberland investments, a follow-on investment was required. In addition, the investment attributes of Timberland remain sound, namely: investing in an asset with biological growth characteristics, a real asset with inflation protection and delivering cash returns to investors from mature timber plantation. The allocation to Timberland investments is considered as a part of the allocation to real assets. Key themes underpinning financial markets over the next 12 months World growth will be moderate, led by the US, China and Japan Overall emerging market valuations look attractive but sentiment remains negative and fundamentals are unclear Australia should have reasonable GDP growth despite remaining below trend of 3.25% Bond yields will likely rise moderately in 2014 both locally and globally Overall, we continue to prefer equities over bonds. Table 1: Summary of VicSuper s asset class views Asset Class Highly Unattractive Moderately Unattractive Neutral Moderately Attractive Highly Attractive Equities Fixed Income Real Assets Alternatives Cash Looking for more information? If you would like more information about how investment markets perform and how they affect your super then why not visit our website to check out the latest VicSuper Quarterly Investment Update or the Investment & Performance section if you would like the most current year-to-date performance figures. You can also register to receive the Quarterly Investment Update via . 5 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

6 Changes to insurance arrangements Important information for VicSuper FutureSaver members As a member of VicSuper you are able to take out insurance cover through the fund and the majority of our members enjoy the peace of mind this insurance provides for them and their families. The provision of insurance benefits for members has been a focus for VicSuper for over 20 years. Throughout this time we have provided attractive death, total and permanent disablement (TPD) and subsequently income protection insurance to members via group insurance policies with National Mutual (later known as AXA) and AMP. AXA merged into AMP in 2012, making AMP one of Australia s largest insurers. Pressure on premiums across the industry The VicSuper Fund Trustee reviews its member insurance arrangements periodically and the outcome of the latest review will be implemented on 1 July We use this opportunity to review our insurer s service, the benefits we provide to members and the terms of the policies. AMP uses this opportunity to review the policy terms and the sustainability of the premium rates, comparing them against claims made over past years and forecasting future claims rates. The 2014 review has been a particularly difficult one. The insurance industry is going through a challenging time, making significant losses in recent years on their group insurance arrangements. There are many reasons for this, but the simple fact is that claims from members have exceeded premiums received. This is not sustainable and large increases in insurance premiums are occurring across the industry to address this imbalance. Premiums increasing from 1 July 2014 Unfortunately VicSuper has not been immune from this situation and accordingly our premiums for death, TPD and income protection insurance cover will be increasing from 1 July This is the first general premium rate increase for VicSuper members in a number of years. Notwithstanding the current tough insurance market, we have still been able to negotiate terms and premium rates for members that continue to make insurance benefits through VicSuper attractive. It is important that you can choose the insurance option that is the best for you and your family, and balance the cost with your insurance needs. Premiums are deducted from your VicSuper account so you don t need to worry about having to meet these costs out of your take home pay. If you have insurance through VicSuper, please visit vicsuper.com.au/insurancechanges to read through the Insurance Update which outlines key changes regarding your insurance, how to make sure you have the level of cover that is right for you and how we can help if you need advice. Do you have any questions about insurance? Call our Member Centre on to speak with one of our friendly experts. 6 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

7 VicSuper partners with The Future Economy Group As a local business leader, VicSuper plays an integral part in the Victorian economy. We do this through providing employment opportunities, purchasing goods and services and by investing our member s money wisely. Focus on Victorian prosperity VicSuper, in line with the broader community, is concerned about Victoria-wide issues including long term economic prosperity and job security. Lately, these issues seem to be reported in the news on a daily basis. They also have the potential to impact on our members, our employees and their families. We believe that the business community needs to collaborate with Government on these issues to ensure there is a prosperous future ahead for all Victorians. Michael Dundon, VicSuper Chief Executive Taking the lead To demonstrate our leadership stance on these economic issues VicSuper joined the The Future Economy Group as a founding partner in late Other founding partners include Victorian business leaders bankmecu and Pacific Hydro, along with leading advocacy groups including Environment Victoria and Sustainable Business Australia. This group was formed to help improve the understanding of the risks associated with a business as usual approach to economic development here in Victoria. The group also undertook research on how the health of our economy is linked to the health of Victoria s natural assets. Our natural assets include our forests, waterways and land, biodiversity and the oceans surrounding the Victorian coastline. These natural assets directly underpin many industries in our economy including farming, manufacturing, tourism, health, finance and insurance. They also underpin the stability and security of employment opportunities for Victorians. Identifying the opportunities The work of The Future Economy Group to date has found that a strong and vibrant economy is fundamental for our future and the well being of all Victorians. The Group also found that Victoria s 21st century economy needs to be smart, sustainable and focused on the long term. The Group s ground breaking research also shows that we do not have to choose between the economy and nature. It believes that Victoria has a fantastic opportunity to innovate and grow economic prosperity and employment opportunities, whilst also taking care of our natural assets. The results of The Future Economy Group research will be published in mid The Group will be using the findings to spark discussions with Government and the broader community on the future of the Victorian economy. 7 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

8 VicSuper is on the move! We are excited to announce that VicSuper s Head Office, including our Melbourne Advice Centre, will be moving from 90 Collins Street to 171 Collins Street. When are we moving Our last day in 90 Collins Street will be on Friday 23 May and we will be open for business-asusual in our new offices at level 9,171 Collins Street on Monday 26 May. Apart from our new address, all of our other contact details will remain the same. Why we decided to move With our lease at 90 Collins Street expiring this year, it provided an ideal opportunity for VicSuper to conduct an accommodation needs assessment and identify properties that would best fit our future requirements. An initial market search resulted in 22 expressions of interest. These alternatives were evaluated and it was decided that 171 Collins Street was the best fit in relation to our selection criteria and would provide the greatest value in the longer-term. Improved member experience We believe that our new offices will improve the member experience. We have expanded our Melbourne Advice Centre capacity to ensure you have access to the services and help you need. Moving to a new building has also provided us with an opportunity to further improve our back-of-house information technology. These improvements are part of our long-term digital strategy and complement our recently released website and mobile solutions. Greater long-term efficiencies The move also provides us with a great opportunity to look at how our business can achieve further cost efficiencies and our sustainability goals. During our time at 90 Collins Street, VicSuper implemented a number of initiatives to reduce environmental impacts and operational costs. With its impressive environmental credentials, 171 Collins Street was identified as the building best equipped to meet VicSuper s long-term needs. Our new offices have been awarded 6 Star Green Star and 5 Star NABERS Energy ratings. These ratings mean that our new offices have been designed to reduce energy consumption by 50% and water consumption by 60%, when compared to a typical Melbourne office building. These efficiencies will contribute to operational cost savings. Our office fit out has also been designed to achieve a 5 Star Green Star rating. This fit-out will not only help us to further reduce our environmental impacts, it will also help us to improve employee well-being and productivity across the business. Together, these factors will make sure that we are efficient in what we do and how we run our business. For more information about the move check out vicsuper.com.au/onthemove On the move VicSuper is moving but it s business as usual. Please contact our Member Centre if you have any queries. 8 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

9 Making super retirement planning easy for regional Victorians VicSuper is committed to helping Victorians make informed decisions about their retirement savings. We currently provide financial advice through our network of five Victorian advice centres located in Bendigo, Blackburn, Geelong, Melbourne CBD and Traralgon. We are pleased to announce that we are now making our financial advice offering even more accessible to members by providing you with the opportunity to meet with a qualified VicSuper financial planner in the following regional centres: Northern Victoria - Mildura, Shepparton, Wodonga and Wangaratta Western Victoria - Ballarat and Warrnambool Eastern Victoria - Bairnsdale and Wonthaggi When you meet with one of our financial planners you can get advice on: planning for your retirement maximising your super contributions your investment strategy accessing Centrelink eligibility and entitlements comparing your super funds. While most advice is at no additional cost, there may be a fee for some types of advice. Your financial planner will advise you of this during your appointment, before any cost is incurred. To make an appointment with a qualified VicSuper financial planner, visit vicsuper.com.au/ superadvice Thank you for the invaluable advice you provided in relation to our retirement planning. The convenience of being able to visit you in Bairnsdale, rather than Traralgon, saved us over two hours travel time which meant we didn t have to take any time off work. The ability to be able to meet personally with a qualified VicSuper financial planner was very important for us when making important decisions about our retirement years. Rick and Nerida, VicSuper members Do you have lost super? There are billions of dollars in lost super in Australia. Some of it could be yours. Find out more at vicsuper.com.au/lostsuper Meet with a VicSuper financial planner Plan for your future more confidently with expert advice on your super. Find out more about super advice and how to book an appointment at vicsuper.com.au/superadvice. 9 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

10 Meet our Traralgon Advice Centre Manager In this edition of Member News, we catch up with Jon Standen our Traralgon Advice Centre manager. Jon s planners service the greater Gippsland area. The advice centre is perfectly located to enable Jon s team to provide a range of services and face to face personalised advice to our Gippsland members. Jon has over 13 years financial planning experience, with the last seven of those years spent working at VicSuper in Traralgon. What does a typical day look like for you and your team? A typical day involves helping members with anything relating to their superannuation funds. This includes providing personalised advice to members and prospective members about changing investment options, making contributions, starting a pension product, consolidating their super, Centrelink planning or accessing their super. We have four senior financial planners who conduct one on one interviews in our office. When the senior financial planners are not in the office, they are travelling across Gippsland visiting employers, conducting seminars and providing one on one interviews at VicSuper s employer workplaces. This could be at primary and secondary schools, the Department of Justice, EPA, Department of Environment & Primary Industry, TAFEs and many other private enterprise employers across Gippsland. What gives you satisfaction in your job? The most satisfying part of my job is when someone comes in for advice uncertain whether they have enough to retire on, or are unclear about how much they actually have in super, and by the end of the interview they have a full understanding of how they will provide for their retirement and are optimistic about their future. What are some highlights over the last couple of years? A highlight for the Traralgon Advice Centre is that we have been able to recruit our highly skilled team of four senior financial planners, all of whom are local to the Gippsland area and have been with VicSuper for at least 5 years. Our team of planners makes us one of the biggest financial planning providers across the Gippsland region. Recently we expanded our services to set up serviced offices in Bairnsdale and Wonthaggi making it easier for our members in these communities to meet personally with a financial planner. What do you love about Traralgon? The location of Traralgon is great. I live five minutes from our office, so travelling to work is very convenient. As a family we love to go camping and there are plenty of great places nearby to choose from. We also love heading to the beach at Inverloch in summer and up to the snow in winter - both places are very close by. What do you do outside of work? When I m not at work I m a board member of a local aged care facility and also on the organising committee for the Gippsland Business Awards. Get to know Jon? What is your favourite film? The Outlaw Josie Wales? What is your favourite song at the moment? Ashes to Ashes by Faith No More.? What is your favourite food? A Lamb roast dinner and a nice red wine is pretty hard to beat.? What is your favourite holiday destination in Australia? Mallacoota, camping on the foreshore. 10 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

11 VicSuper has gone Mobile Check your super anywhere, anytime In January this year, VicSuper proudly launched VicSuper Mobile, a site designed specifically for people on the move. VicSuper Mobile allows you to quickly and easily login to your VicSuper account from your mobile device. Providing our members with the best online services we can is a key objective of VicSuper for 2014, said Michael Dundon, Chief Executive. And we will be looking at ways to use new technology to help make managing super easier and more enjoyable. The January 2014 rollout of VicSuper Mobile, along with the launch of VicSuper s new website and calculators in October last year, marks the completion of phase one of VicSuper s technology transformation. Clare Tam, Executive Manager Member & Employer Services, and Chief Information Officer said, We know members generally want quick and easy access to their account and relevant information. In the coming year, we ll be making significant changes to VicSuper systems to help improve the overall experience for members. Some of these changes will be visible to members through enhancements to VicSuper Mobile and VicSuper MembersOnline (desktop). Other changes will be less apparent, but will allow us to process contributions and payments more efficiently, as well as provide a solid foundation on which to continue to add to our online services. What can you do on VicSuper Mobile now? Check your: Account balance Balance in each investment option Latest rollovers, contributions, withdrawals and pension payments Investment performance and unit prices Insurance cover How to login You can login at vicsuper.com.au with your member number and password. You be will automatically directed to VicSuper Mobile or VicSuper MembersOnline depending on your device. Do you need help? Forgotten your password or need to register? Please visit VicSuper MembersOnline from your desktop, or call our Member Centre on Calculators are also available for your mobile device You can now access our calculators from the convenience of your mobile phone. Go to vicsuper.com.au/calculators. 11 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

12 Maximise your super balance Your future is dependent on the decisions you make today. So take a step for your future and sort out your super. After all, it s your money. So why not make the most of it? The good news is there are lots of ways to top up your super and make it work harder for you. Try these handy tips to get your super moving faster. 1. Consolidate your super If you have multiple funds, it s possible you re paying multiple fees. Paying multiple fees can eat into your savings. Consolidating your super and keeping it in one low-cost account could save you on fees. 2. Add a bit more You might like to consider: salary sacrificing which allows you to top up your super from your before tax salary after-tax personal contributions, which could also make you eligible to receive a bonus co-contribution from the Government of up to $500. Also from 1 July 2014 the maximum amount of contributions you are permitted to contribute to your super each year is increasing, so you may wish to consider taking advantage of these changes. 3. Government super co-contribution The Government wants us to save for our retirement so it s created the Government co-contribution to reward people for adding a bit more. By making your own contribution into super, the Government could give you a co-contribution of up to $500. Why not check out if you re eligible to receive the Government co-contribution. 4. Self-employed contributions If you re self-employed or a sole trader any contributions you make into super may be tax deductible. If you do not claim a tax deduction, you may also be eligible to receive up to $500 as a Government co-contribution. It s not compulsory for you to make contributions into super if you re self-employed, but there are some significant advantages if you do. 5. Super for your spouse Helping your spouse with their super can also have great tax benefits for you We know that saving for retirement is often a joint effort. That s why you are able to make spouse contributions and split your super with your partner. You can split up to 85% of your concessional super contributions with your spouse. VicSuper s Express super advice team can assist you with ways to boost your super. Simply visit vicsuper.com/superadvice or call our Member Centre on for assistance. Express Advice Express advice is specifically for those questions you want quick answers to. It s fast and is provided by qualified financial planners over the phone. Find out more about express advice and how to book at vicsuper.com.au/expressadvice 12 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

13 Super Woman Money Program 2014 is up and running! For the past four years VicSuper has run our Super Woman Money Program which runs for 12 weeks and focuses on improving the financial literacy of women. The Program has proven to be a great success with over 5,000 women completing it to date. The 2014 Program launch This year we launched our Super Woman Money Program with a breakfast that coincided with International Women s Day. We were lucky enough to have the amazing Clare Bowditch as our guest speaker for the launch. Clare s talk centred on Inspiring Change which is also the International Women s Day theme for Clare has had a varied and highly successful career both as a singer and as an actor, she also runs a company: Big Hearted Business whose aim is to teach creative people about business, and business people about creativity, in ways that make sense. We were fortunate to hear Clare sing her new song Amazing Life, which provided the perfect conclusion to a very inspiring talk and successful launch event! About the Super Woman Money Program The Super Woman Money Program covers topics including investments, superannuation and budgeting. The Program runs for 12 weeks and there s no cost to join - you don t even have to be a VicSuper member. Each week you ll receive an with a jargon-free article prepared by one of our female financial experts covering key topics such as debt, investing, creating a budget, insurance and superannuation. You ll also get access to bonus articles, the opportunity to ask our experts your financial questions, plus invitations to three events over the course of the Program. Become a Super Woman! We will have a new 12 week program starting in July, for more information or to sign up for upcoming event notifications or the Super Woman Money Program, go to Super Woman Money Program 2014 Launch! This year we launched our Super Woman Money Program with a breakfast that coincided with International Women s Day. We were lucky enough to have the amazing Clare Bowditch as our guest speaker for the launch. Follow us on Facebook! com/superwomanmoney Singer and actor, Clare Bowditch, treats attendees with a performance of her new Colour palette song Amazing Life a at the launch of 2014 Super Woman Money Program. 13 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

14 Important news at VicSuper Pensions subject to deeming Under current rules, part of the income from an account based income stream, such as a VicSuper Pension, is excluded from being counted under the Centrelink income test. However from 1 January 2015 account based income streams will have their income assessed under the same deeming rules that apply to other financial assets, unless the requirements of the transitional rules (detailed below) are met. Transitional rules Those pensioners who hold an account based income stream prior to 1 January 2015 and who are also in receipt of an income support payment at that date, such as the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Newstart Allowance, will continue to be assessed under the old rules provided the income support payment is continuous, and they do not change to another product. After 1 January 2015, if they stop receiving the income support payment, or roll into a new pension, they will then be assessed under the new deeming rules. What does this mean for members? This change may potentially impact a member s eligibility for a Centrelink payment from 1 January However, this delayed start date presents opportunities for members to commence a VicSuper Pension and lock in the transitional rules. If you have any concerns about how these changes could impact you or you would like to see if commencing a VicSuper Pension may be of benefit to you, request an appointment with one of our qualified VicSuper financial planners. Treatment of contributions received on the last day of the financial year Please note there are conflicting statements from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in relation to the treatment of contributions received by VicSuper on the last day of the financial year (ie, if the contribution is counted for the 2013/14 or 2014/15 financial year). While we seek clarification from the ATO, to ensure you are not affected by ATO s views, please ensure any contributions you wish to be counted to the 2013/14 financial year are received by VicSuper by 27 June 2014 (including any documentation eg contribution forms). If you have any queries about this issue please contact our Member Centre on Increases to contribution caps From 1 July 2014 there are changes to the contribution caps which may allow you to contribute more into your super. Contribution type Concessional (eg SG and salary sacrifice) Nonconcessional (eg personal tax) Cap Increases from $25,000 pa to $30,000 pa However, if you re age 49 and over at 30 June 2014 the cap for 2014/15 is $35,000 pa Increases from $150,000 pa to $180,000 pa Please refer to our website for impacts on the bring forward rule (contributions over three years). Visit our website for more details about these changes or contact our Member Centre on VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

15 Update on Super Guarantee increases and Low Income Super Contribution The Government previously announced they would be delaying the scheduled increases to the Super Guarantee and also repealing the Low Income Super Contribution. These changes do not appear to be going ahead at this stage, however we will keep members updated if there are any further developments in relation to these issues. Privacy update We have recently updated our Privacy brochures in line with the changes to Privacy laws which took effect on 12 March These brochures describe how we collect, use and disclose personal information. Copies are available on our website or if you would like to request a copy please contact our Member Centre on What are the deeming rules? The deeming rules are used to calculate your income when you are being assessed for a Centrelink income support payment. They assume that your financial assets (such as bank deposits, shares and managed funds) are earning a set rate of income, regardless of the income (ie interest or dividends etc) they actually earn. You can refer to humanservices.gov.au for more information. 15 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

16 Exclusive member rewards Would you know who to call if you saw an injured animal on the road? Wildlife Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation committed to reducing the suffering of wildlife by providing an emergency response service for injured, sick and orphaned wildlife across Victoria. This vital community service is supported by over 1,000 trained and experienced volunteers, other wildlife groups and generous vets. Wildlife Victoria receives no Government funding and relies solely on donations. It has a call centre that takes 60,000 calls a year and 1,400 volunteers who help deal with sick, injured or orphaned native animals. Wildlife Victoria s mission is to protect, rescue, rehabilitate, and release sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife through a network of wildlife rescuers, carers and other volunteers; and to gain community and stakeholder support to help them achieve this. If you see an injured animal please call the Wildlife Victoria emergency response number on VicSuper is proud to spread the word about this important community service and the great work of Wildlife Victoria. For more information please visit wildlifevictoria.org.au Cash back offer on hearing aids through Blamey Saunders hears Special offer: $50 cash back on any purchase Blamey Saunders hears are providers of digital hearing aids. Blamey Saunders hears are specialists in the science of hearing and their hearing aids use the amplification technology developed for the bionic ear and Cochlear implants. Professor Peter Blamey, one of the founders of Blamey Saunders hears says We have invented an effective low-priced, discreet hearing aid system. You buy it online, adjust it yourself, and our expert team support you along the way. Their hearing aid technologies amplify sound and also manage background noise. All of their models incorporate these features and their prices range from $990 to $1,725 per hearing aid. To redeem the $50 cash back on your purchase please quote VicSuperHears when dealing with Blamey Saunders hears. For more information, visit blameysauders.com.au Travel discounts through Intrepid Travel Special offer: 10% off Intrepid land tours For travelers with a yearning to get off the beaten track, Intrepid opens up a whole new world - real people, real cultures and incredible real life experiences around the globe. Intrepid Travel are offering an exclusive 10% discount off Intrepid land tours for VicSuper members. You ll also receive access to competitive airfares and travel insurance, plus the unique opportunity to take advantage of quarterly super trip packages which include airfares and tours. To redeem the 10% discount, you must book directly with Intrepid and quote See Intrepid s terms and conditions and call to book. *The products and services listed above are provided by third parties and additional terms and conditions may apply. These products and services are not provided, recommended or endorsed by VicSuper and you should make your own assessment as to the suitability of these products and services. VicSuper accepts no responsibility for goods or services provided by third parties. Check out our website for other exciting member rewards! 16 VicSuper Member News Autumn 2014

17 Browse our website vicsuper.com.au Call our Member Centre and speak to a VicSuper superannuation consultant between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday Visit us Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm Bendigo Blackburn Geelong Melbourne Traralgon To make an appointment to see a VicSuper superannuation adviser call Send us a fax Write to us VicSuper GPO Box 89 Melbourne 3001 This Member News does not take into account your financial situation, objectives or needs. Visit vicsuper.com.au and obtain a copy of the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. You should consider this document in deciding whether VicSuper is right for you. VicSuper recommends you seek professional advice for your own circumstances. You can contact VicSuper to make an appointment to see one of our VicSuper representatives. VicSuper Pty Ltd ABN ( VicSuper ) is the Trustee of VicSuper Fund ABN The Trustee holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL ) under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cwlth) and a RSE Licence under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cwlth). Under its AFSL, VicSuper is licensed to deal in, and provide financial product advice on superannuation products. At present, VicSuper representatives are limited to providing financial product advice on VicSuper products; ESSSuper - Revised, New, SERB and Transport Schemes; providing advice on whether a member should consolidate or roll over their superannuation holdings (excluding personal advice on selfmanaged superannuation funds) into VicSuper; and general superannuation matters. VicSuper Pty Ltd does not have any input into information on referenced websites. Accordingly, no responsibility is taken for any information or services which may appear on any referenced websites. The corporate partners, VicSuper members and other recognisable individuals included on this website have provided their consent. Offers and discounts are made by the respective organisations and not by VicSuper. VicSuper is not responsible for products or services offered, or representations made by another organisation. May 2014.