Your Employer Report. this issue

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1 June 2009 Your Employer Report this issue /09 HESTA super s in good hands Better benefits for your buck Personal advice for all members! Employer profile: Ramsay Health Care Phenomenal nurses recognised

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3 Contents HESTA super s in good hands Page 3 Employer profile: Ramsay Health Care Page 4 Your questions answered Page 5 How to avoid contribution arrears Page 6 FIS: financial information for all Australians Page 8 Better benefits for your buck: HESTA s insurance improvements Page 9 Introducing HESTA Super FileManager Page 10 Phenomenal nurses recognised Page 12 Your HESTA Service Team Page 14 Personal advice for all members! Page 15 Contact HESTA online [email protected] phone Free call mail PO Box 600, Carlton South, Vic, 3053 HESTA super s in good hands HESTA CEO Anne-Marie Corboy has been recognised for her unflagging commitment to ensuring that women receive the maximum benefits of their superannuation. Ms. Corboy was named Fund Executive of the Year by the Fund Executive Association Limited (FEAL) late last year. This was the second award won by a member of HESTA s management in Former Chair Beth Mohle was awarded Trustee of the Year by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) earlier in the year. These awards reinforce the strength and depth of the HESTA leadership. At HESTA, your super is in capable hands. 3

4 Employer profile: Ramsay Health Care HESTA employer: Australian sites: Employees: 22,000 Ramsay Health Care More than 64 nationwide; the largest operator of private hospitals in Australia Quality, performance, continuity of service, and a truly national representation are what HESTA provides to Ramsay Health Care Australia, according to Raeleen Garner, Ramsay s Group Human Resources Coordinator. Raeleen and the Group HR team are responsible for managing national wellness and employee benefits programs that Ramsay, a market leader and employer of choice within the healthcare industry, provides to all of its 22,000 employees in Australia. Managing personal finances is a key stressor for employees, so financial education forms a key part of our national wellness and employee benefits programs, says Raeleen. HESTA has supported our internal programs by providing free seminar and advice services to staff at over 60 hospitals in the Ramsay group. Now we re looking at running retirement planning seminars to complement this offering. We really appreciate the fact that they ve offered the financial seminar service to all Ramsay employees, regardless of whether they re with HESTA or not, Raeleen adds. That, to me, really sets HESTA apart. It would cost us a fortune to go out to the marketplace and find a comparable financial education service, and staff feedback on the education sessions has been excellent. Ramsay staff members who have super with HESTA are also able to arrange free face-to-face private consultations with a HESTA representative to discuss their specific financial situation or issues. It s a very valuable service, Raeleen explains. It provides an avenue for our staff to plan their finances. They can access goodquality advice on financial issues like budgeting, co-contributions and salary sacrificing. HESTA s national presence has been crucial to the service s success within the wellness program. We really try to keep a national focus for programs adopted at all Ramsay hospitals, Raeleen reveals. The fact that HESTA can support this is very rare. Many organisations say they re national, but they re not, and it shows in the service. HESTA has one of the best customer service orientations I ve come across. Raeleen adds, HESTA reps are very passionate and focused on their clients, and turnover is low, so we ve been able to build a really strong relationship over the years. Ramsay Health Care's Greenslopes Private Hospital in Greenslopes, Queensland Raeleen Garner, Ramsay s Group Human Resources Coordinator 4

5 Your questions answered Have a question about your superannuation contributions? Hopefully, these answers to common queries will save you time. How does Employer Online work? Employer Online is HESTA s convenient online super administration service, which lets you: add employees view contribution summaries online register to make electronic payments receive electronic messages, such as remittance advice, in real time check the status of payments, and find out instantly if more information is needed to process your payments. Try the online demonstration of Employer Online in the Admin Centre at Employers.html Why have I received an arrears letter? HESTA will contact you in writing if your payment is late. You may also receive an arrears letter if you re set up to make monthly super payments, but you re paying quarterly. Please note that HESTA may also write to members if we don't receive contributions expected from you. See page 6 for more information. My cheque has been banked. Why did I receive an arrears notice? If your cheque has been banked, it may be that we need more information about that payment. For example, the remittance advice you ve provided may not match the amount you ve paid, or you may have tried to make a payment to an unregistered person. Free call , and we ll help resolve the issue. How can I obtain a blank contribution form? Download blank Contribution advice forms from com.au/employers.html, or call us and we ll or post them to you. In some cases if you re making a payment for the period that s just past, for example we may be able to send you a pre-populated contributions form, which can make life much easier! Or, why not investigate sending your details electronically? Free call for details. How do I change my employer contact details? Send us your request in writing, on your company letterhead, including these three points of ID: 1. your organisation s phone number 2. your employer number 3. the name of your previous HESTA-registered contact employee. The person who s making the request, and either the registered company contact or a senior manager from your company, both need to sign the letter. Then send it to us at: HESTA PO Box 600 Carlton South VIC 3053 Need more information? Free call or visit the Employers area of 5

6 How to avoid contribution arrears By participating as a HESTA employer, you agree to abide by the terms and conditions set out in the HESTA Trust Deed. One of those conditions is to pay contributions for your employees monthly, and to make the payment for each month by the 14th day of the following month. We require all employers to remit contributions monthly to ensure that investment earnings accrue to member accounts promptly, and to facilitate the payment of disability and death insurance premiums. Most industrial agreements also require employers to remit super contributions monthly. Some employers may have completed HESTA's Employer application for quarterly contributions form to apply to only pay quarterly, in line with their separate obligations under the Superannuation Guarantee legislation. Regardless of your agreed frequency of employer contributions, if you deduct personal super contributions from an employee's pay, you are required by law to send those amounts to their super fund within 28 days of the month in which you made the deduction. APRA can impose heavy fines on employers for non-compliance. If we don't receive your employer payment by the 14th of the following month, we ll send you a reminder letter. Further reminders may follow. We may also contact our members directly, and legal action may be taken to obtain the entitlements of Fund members. Avoid arrears follow-up The easiest way to avoid an arrears follow-up is to make your contributions on time. Make sure that you provide contribution details for each employee. Include a payment of $0.00 to denote that an employee is not entitled to a contribution for that period. If none of your employees is eligible for superannuation for a payment period, return your Contribution advice with the Grand Total marked as "Nil" so that our systems will not record a non-payment. 6

7 What if you have to pay the Superannuation Guarantee charge? Employers in Australia are bound by the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) legislation to make contributions to a complying super fund for most employees over 18 and under 70 years of age who earn $450 or more in a calendar month. Subject to legislation, you may choose to make contributions for other employees, or you may be obliged to contribute under an industrial award or workplace agreement. The amount contributed by employers is currently equivalent to 9% of an employee s ordinary time earnings (OTE). Financial penalties are payable to the Australian Tax Office if SG amounts are not paid to a super fund by the 28th day after the end of the relevant quarter. If you haven t paid by the due date or you haven t paid enough super for your employees, you ll need to lodge an SG charge statement with the ATO and pay the SG charge to the ATO. This charge is made up of the employee s SG shortfall amount, nominal interest of 10% p.a. and an administration fee of $20 for each employee with a shortfall. You may now claim an offset against the SG charge for contributions paid to a super fund up to four years late. However, you re not entitled to claim a tax deduction for the SG charge paid to the ATO, or for any contributions paid late to a super fund and used to offset the SG charge. The nominal interest component of the charge is calculated on an employee s quarterly shortfall amount from the first day of the relevant quarter to the date when the SG charge would be payable. HESTA may accept late contributions, but this does not remove your entire obligation to pay penalties to the ATO. Nor can we refund your contributions. Your record-keeping requirements You must keep records that adequately explain your SG transactions, or your Superannuation Guarantee Charge Statement, including documents that show how you calculated the level of super support paid for each employee. You must also keep suitable records regarding your compliance with employee choice of super fund. These records can be examined by the ATO and a penalty of up to $3,300 applies for a failure to keep accurate records. For more information, contact HESTA on , or the ATO on or at STOP PRESS New super reporting obligations to the ATO are effective from 1 July If you make employer super contributions in excess of your compulsory contributions for an employee (for example, salary sacrifice contributions), you may need to report those contributions on your employees' payment summary. This means you may need to change your payroll system and how you report to the ATO. For more information go to and search "reportable employer super contributions". 7

8 FIS: financial information for all Australians As the economic downturn threatens the security of businesses and jobs, Bob Forrester, Business Manager for Centrelink s Financial Information Service (FIS), explains how FIS can help. What is FIS? Centrelink s FIS helps people to plan for and maximise their income in retirement by taking positive and appropriate steps throughout their working lives, Bob begins. FIS was first started for pensioners in 1989, but it was offered to all Australians in So anyone can come to see an FIS officer or attend one of our educational seminars. Bob stresses that you don t need to be using any other Centrelink service to access the FIS. Anyone can ask an FIS officer to look at investment and retirement issues that they want to know more about. Centrelink s FIS is independent, free and completely confidential. What do FIS officers do? FIS officers educate people so that they have a better basis on which to make important financial decisions, Bob explains. We provide information that helps people to feel more confident about their finances, including investments, taxation, or rules related to Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs payments and benefits. Typically, we cover the range of things that a financial planner would cover, but we don t sell any investments or give actual advice. Is the service one-on-one? We offer individual consultations as well as public seminars, Bob clarifies. Often, a customer will contact us to arrange to talk to an FIS officer. The meeting, which can be done over the phone or face-to-face, lets us look at the issues together. Arrange an appointment to see a FIS officer by calling Centrelink on An FIS officer takes audience questions at an educational seminar 8

9 Better benefits for your buck: HESTA s insurance improvements Better value for the same low price. That s what HESTA's disability and death insurance benefits promise members from 1 May this year. HESTA s benefits have increased, but the insurance premiums, which come straight out of members accounts, don't cost a cent more. Our standard insurance is provided through units of cover. Members with HESTA's default insurance have two units of Death Cover, and two units of Income Protection Cover which can provide a monthly disability income through to age 60. HESTA, with our insurer ING Australia, is pleased to announce increased benefits from 1 May, 2009: The benefits provided by each unit of Income Protection Cover have increased by over 6% to $425, so two units of cover now provide a monthly benefit of up to $850. HESTA members can apply for extra units to provide benefits of up to $25,000 per month, subject to an increased limit of 85% of their salary. Death Cover has also increased, with the basic two units now providing $170,000 cover before age 36. Members can apply for additional insurance to provide a benefit of up to $2 million. Cover has also increased for insured members at other ages, as shown at Units of Total and Permanent Disability Cover provide the same level of cover as each unit of Death Cover. Good news for members who have fixed the level of their insurance cover (rather than take units of cover): premiums for fixed cover reduce from 1 May The new insurance rules came into effect on 1 May If any of your employees are unsure of their cover, or want to review their cover, free call

10 Introducing HESTA Super FileManager Making super contributions to HESTA just got easier, thanks to HESTA Super FileManager. HESTA Super FileManager is an electronic contributions system that s best suited to employers with over 30 members. You're issued with a unique password you can use to log into the system at anytime, from any online location. You don t need to install any special software: once you ve logged in, you can upload contribution data files from most preferred accounting packages, including MYOB, Micropay, Attache and more. The system validates your files and sends you an to alert you to any changes that are required, or to advise you to make your contribution payment. You also have a range of online payment options. Register today and start making online contributions. Speak to your HESTA Client Relationship Manager, or free call HESTA Super FileManager homepage HESTA Super FileManager is fast and convenient, and makes short work of paying super contributions for your staff. See for yourself testdrive our online demo now at superfilemanager Uploading a file 10

11 It's simple to use and there's less margin for error so you gain more control. Simple to use Rose Harvey, of SA s Royal District Nursing Service, uses Super FileManager to pay super contributions for around 300 HESTA members. Super FileManager is very simple to use, Rose says. The best thing is that you can see that your files have been uploaded into the system and also when they have been confirmed and processed. The reference number is generated as your files are uploaded. Rose s final word on Super FileManager? It s very straightforward and easy. Less margin for error Jill Toy, who works for SA s Padman Group, has used the system since late 2008 to make super contributions for over 600 HESTA members. She describes Super FileManager as straightforward and very simple to use. It s a lot quicker than the old system we used, Jill explains, where there were a lot more steps to complete. Now, we can use a single reference number to make all the payments by EFT. It s a lot cleaner, Jill says, and there s much less margin for error. Jill adds that help was never far away. If I came across something I didn t understand, I just called my contact at HESTA s office, and they d talk me through it. It was great. More control Joanne Ambrose, payroll manager at the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd, processes employee super contributions to 57 super funds, including HESTA. Joanne, who took part in the pilot launch of the system and has been using HESTA Super FileManager since November last year, says the system gives her more control. We can see the file in full before we submit it. So if there are any problems with the file, we see it beforehand, Joanne explains. Now we don t have to make any payments ourselves. The money is taken directly from our bank account once we submit the files, and approve the details and the payment via . The simpler the submission process, the easier it is, she adds. 11

12 Phenomenal nurses recognised Patient nominations... expressed overwhelming appreciation for work that the nominees themselves seemed to take in their stride. The HESTA Australian Nursing Awards judging is complete, and three truly outstanding nurses have been named Australia s best. The quality of this year s nominations was just phenomenal, explains HESTA Australian Nursing Awards Coordinator Adelaide Cochrane. Narrowing the field for judging was an enormous task. Some 324 Nurse of the Year nominations, 45 Innovation in Nursing nominations, and 35 Graduate Nurse of the Year nominations were received for this year s awards. Frequently, nominees worked around the clock, on their own time, using their own resources, often over months or years, to improve the situations of their patients, patients families and colleagues, Adelaide reveals. She recalls the story of a nurse caring for a Russian scientist. The nurse helped the scientist, who'd been rescued from Antarctica, to adjust to and understand his treatment in a Tasmanian hospital. In other cases, nurses saw opportunities to enhance processes, education, and patient care within their workplaces, and worked tirelessly to devise, test, and implement improvements that benefited staff and patients alike. From training courses to specialised patient management software tools, these initiatives were developed to succeed within the unique circumstances of the facilities in which the nurses worked. The dedication that the nominees display every single day, on every shift, is awe-inspiring, Adelaide notes. The nominations highlighted the value of health care excellence to ordinary Australians. The emotions came across very strongly in this year s nominations, says Adelaide. Patient nominations, particularly for midwives and personal care attendants, expressed overwhelming appreciation for work that the nominees themselves seemed to take in their stride. The nominations are proof that nurses, assistants in nursing, personal care attendants, and midwives around Australia regularly go far beyond the call of duty. HESTA is proud to help support these dedicated individuals and their industry once again through the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards. View photos from the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards event at (From left) Innovation in Nursing Winner Jamie Rutherford, Nurse of the Year Lyn Olsen & Graduate Nurse of the Year Stav McDevitt. 12

13 HESTA Australian Nursing Award winners Nurse of the Year Lyn Olsen Bunurong Health Service, VIC Innovation in Nursing Jamie Rutherford North West Dialysis Service, VIC Graduate Nurse of the Year Stav McDevitt Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS Lyn Olsen has played a critical role in supporting Koori mothers through pregnancy and birth, using her compassion, skills and empathy to overcome some of the difficulties these women face in the public hospital system. Lyn, a Registered Nurse and midwife working on the Dandenong and District Aborigines Cooperative s Koori Maternity Services Program, has a caseload that extends from St Kilda to Gippsland. Yet she takes it all in her stride, remaining on call for her mums 24/7 and often rescheduling leave around clients birth timings. Lyn s clear communication and tireless support for her clients have seen her assist many mothers to maintain healthy lifestyles during and after pregnancy, and to breastfeed their babies. The outstanding level of care Lyn provides to every one of her clients has improved health outcomes for the local Koori community, and has made her a professional asset to the Cooperative. Jamie Rutherford is a Nurse Unit Manager within Victoria s North West Dialysis Service, which services 30% of dialysis patients in the state, and pioneered the ABO incompatible (ABOi) renal transplant process with the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Last year, 70 ABOi transplants were performed, prompting Jamie to investigate ways to streamline the treatment processes. He developed a procedure whereby plasma exchange, which reduces antibody levels in patients blood to allow transplants to proceed, can occur simultaneously with haemodialysis. The tandem exchange procedure was first used in It significantly reduces process time, allowing patients to re-engage with work and family commitments and improve their quality of life. Jamie s research also identified that a Double Filtration Plasma Exchange process would allow the service to increase its case load without proportionately increasing demand for blood products. He plans to use his research grant to travel to Tokyo to study the procedure so he can introduce this best practice in renal care to his Victorian patients. Stav McDevitt is a role model for others at Tasmania s Royal Hobart Hospital. The nurse excelled in her rotations through the hospital s Day Surgery Unit and general Surgical Ward during her graduate year. A champion of reflective practice, Stav impressed colleagues with her commitment to getting to know her patients not just their illnesses. Her approach to patient welfare focuses heavily on communication. She swiftly developed an approach to patient handover that highlights methods for overcoming language barriers with each patient. She also focused on providing on-the-spot support to often emotional family members bewildered by the hospital system and concerned for their loved ones. Eager to learn from others and her own experiences, Stav would routinely reflect on her work, and try to improve further on the level of care she delivered. Stav s commitment to patients has seen her provide an extraordinary level of holistic care, and raise the bar for other nurses she works with. 13

14 Your HESTA Service Team Free call or the HESTA Service Team representative in your state or territory if you need help to administer super, or if you would like them to visit your workplace and explain the ins and outs of super to you and your employees. VIC - (03) SA - (08) Nick Cowling Silas Dingiria Natasha Dreger On leave until January 2010 Irene Helena Duncanson Higginbottom Adam Hooper Connie Letizia WA - (08) Patrick Toffoli John Leitch Jaime Seletto On leave until March 2010 Anthony Smolic James Stumpo Silvia Carbone Michele Herbert On leave until March 2010 Sharon Knightley Bernadette Missen NSW/ACT - (02) TAS - (03) NT - (08) Flavio Alessio Mark Ashby Ester Cibasek Cheryl Heath Alison Dixon Joanne Fenton Tony Kotsonis Michelle Kerlin Elaine Lawler Sinead Lyons Carole Menere QLD - (07) What you need to know about this Employer Report and HESTA s products: This HESTA Employer Report contains information about HESTA Super Fund ABN SPIN HST0100AU and is produced by H.E.S.T. Australia Limited, (the Trustee of the Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia), ABN AFSL No Care is taken to ensure that information is correct at the time of printing, but neither the Trustee nor its advisers accept responsibility for any error or misprint, nor for anyone acting on this information which is of a general nature. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or specific needs so you should look at your own financial position and requirements before making a decision. You may wish to consult an adviser when doing this. The information also represents HESTA s interpretation of the law in some instances but should not be relied upon as legal advice. Investments can go up and down. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Consider our Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision about HESTA free call or visit for a copy. Copyright: H.E.S.T. Australia Limited

15 Personal advice for all members! HESTA s personal advice service is a real eye-opener according to HESTA member Scott Whitmore, who s now arranged to have the service extended to his 180 colleagues at the Service to Youth Council in South Australia. I learned a whole lot, Scott says of the advice service, which is free to all HESTA members. It really opens your eyes to what s going on around super. While speaking to HESTA on an employer matter, Scott, who has a young family, mentioned that he d like some personal advice on his own super and life insurance. HESTA Superannuation Service Adviser Pat Toffoli contacted Scott soon after. I liked the fact that up-front, Pat said This is what I can do, and what I can t do, Scott says. It was very clear from the start what he could do for me and how. Scott wanted to review his disability and death insurance, but the conversation opened his eyes to other aspects of super he wasn t making the most of including top-up strategies, the government s co-contribution scheme, and more. Scott was so impressed he thought his colleagues at the council could also benefit. I told our HR department about the service, Scott explains. Currently, Pat attends every staff induction, explaining HESTA and its benefits to members. We re now planning to roll out an extra service so Pat can visit all 15 of our worksites over the next six months, and talk to the staff members about whatever they want to talk about retirement saving, insurance, fund performance and so on. Knowing how valuable HESTA s free personal advice has been to his own situation, Scott s very excited about the council s plans. HESTA went above and beyond for me, Scott adds. The personal advice service is great. Pat Toffoli, HESTA Superannuation Service Adviser, helped member Scott Whitmore take control of his super To arrange to have a HESTA Member Education Manager visit your workplace, free call

16 Your super fund can make a lifetime of difference to your employees 3 Your industry fund for health and community services 3 Low fees 3 No commissions 3 Run only to profit members An Industry SuperFund Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Limited ABN AFSL regarding HESTA Super Fund ABN Consider our Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision about HESTA - call or visit our website for a copy.