Reports and research papers

2023
  • Bridging the gap in a gendered superannuation system Right Lane Consulting in collaboration with Women in Super 

    We are deeply cognisant of the longstanding issues of gender inequality in the superannuation system and wanted to offer insights that drill into the drivers of that inequality and present options for reform. Too often in superannuation, we acknowledge the labour force issues that flow through into retirement but observe that these are not ‘problems of the retirement income system’. We think it is time to broaden our thinking. Right Lane set out to drill down into the labour force factors that bear on women’s private savings. We see that women’s superannuation savings begin to markedly reduce compared to men’s during their 30s and the gap increases until they retire. 

2020
  • The Herstory of Super Per Capita for Women in Super
    This report looks at the history of superannuation for Australian women, marks its progress towards equity, and identifies what more could to be done to improve the system in Order to mitigate women’s vulnerability to poverty in retirement.
  • J.P. Morgan gloal research finds key challenges remain in drive for gender parity J.P. Morgan
    Dr Sally Auld, head of economic research and market strategy for J.P. Morgan in Australia and New Zealand, says more needs to be done to drive gender balance and shares her view on achieving this in light of such a seismic global change as COVID-19
2019
  • After the Charter Women in Super
    Thinking around domestic and family violence has continued to evolve since we introduced the Domestic Violence Charter in 2016, and we wanted to revisit it to see what changes signatories had made since, and what impact those changes are having in their workplaces.
  • Ready Reckoner: Gender Gap Analysis Rice Warner and Women in Super
    New analysis by Women in Super (WIS) based on modelling of four million industry superannuation member accounts commissioned by WIS from Rice Warner Actuaries, gives insight into the gender super gap and the retirement outcomes the current system will deliver for the young women of today. The unprecedented analysis has revealed that the super gender gap and poor retirement outcomes will persist for the majority of women unless there are significant improvements in superannuation policy settings. 

2018 

  • The Future Face of Poverty is Female AustralianSuper and Monash University
    This report explores the stories of the lives behind gendered superannuation poverty in Australia. It looks in-depth at the ways 40 women participated in the labour market during their working lives and the impact this has had on their retirement. It also provides data on how women and men's experience of the workforce is different and how women’s participation in the labour force is intricately connected to carer responsibilities.
  • National Financial Capability Strategy ASIC
    This strategy, developed by ASIC, outlines the importance of building financial capability amongst Australians and what is going to be done to achieve this.
  • Women in Work Index: Closing the Gender Pay Gap PwC Research
    The 2018 Women in Work Index takes a look at the drivers of the pay gap across the OECD. Findings suggest stronger policy focus on enhanced social support to women and families to encourage participation in work, as well as improving opportunities for working women in higher-paying, higher-skilled roles through flexibility. 
  • Small Claims, Large Battles Women's Legal Service Victoria
    Executive Officer, Sandra Buckley was part of the Advisory Committee for the Women’s Legal Service Victoria Small Claims, Large Battles project which investigated the barriers to fair financial outcomes in the family law system for vulnerable and disadvantaged women, many of whom had experienced family violence. 
2017
  • Work Well; Retire Well - 'Ageing Agenders' Project 2017 Australian Research Council
    A three year Australian Research Council research project conducted in partnership with Women in Super, Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency and three industry superannuation funds Cbus, HESTA and CareSuper. The project aims to analyse how Australians can retire well, taking account of their key resources and corresponding demands in the context of an ageing population and a more feminised workforce.
  • Improving the Financial Literacy of Self Employed Women Edith Cowan University
    This study follows on from previous research which found that self-employed women were less prepared for retirement, and had fewer strategies in place than their male counterparts. It aims to answer the key question of how well are self-employed women prepared for retirement? Also, what effect will a targeted training program have on the financial literacy of self-employed women?
  • Understanding the Unpaid Economy PwC Research
    The PwC study measures unpaid work and highlights not only its value, but also the gender split and its impact on female workforce participation.
  • Women in Work Index: Closing the Gender Pay Gap PwC Research
    The 2017 Women in Work Index results show that the OECD has continued its gradual progress towards greater female economic empowerment. Iceland, Sweden and Norway remain in the top three positions, with New Zealand ranked just behind them. Australia dropped further, from 15th to 16th position, due largely to the entrenched gender pay gap and low rate of female full-time employment, the third lowest in the OECD.
2016
  • Women's Super Summit Report - November 2016 Women in Super / AIST
    AIST and WIS combined to hold the inaugural Women’s Super Summit on 18 November 2016, inviting representatives from Government agencies, universities, research organisations, superannuation funds and other key stakeholders to participate.
  • 'A husband is not a retirement plan' | Achieving economic security for women in retirement report Economic References Committee

    The Senate Inquiry into the Economic Security of Women in Retirement has found that if action is not taken now, women currently aged 25-29 will still face a less secure retirement than men of the same age when they retire in 2055. The Inquiry’s final report provides 19 recommendations that, if implemented, would narrow the gap between men and women’s retirement security.

  • AIST Mercer Super Tracker: How the super system stacks up on fairness, adequacy, and sustainability AIST / Mercer 
    AIST and Mercer have developed the Super Tracker to assess the progress of Australia’s retirement income system based on the available evidence and to make important contributions to the discussion about the system’s ongoing development including the fairness of taxation arrangements. This paper focuses on how the Australian super system stacks up on fairness, adequacy, and sustainability.

2015
  • Gender Equality in Retirement Mary Delahunty / Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia
    Mary Delahunty was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate how the issue of gender equity (in particular, caring credits) is being dealt with overseas.
  • Modelling of superannuation tax proposals AIST / Mercer
    This paper models 21 different proposed policy changes using the AIST-Mercer Super Tracker and forms an attachment to our final supplementary submission to the tax discussion paper.
  • Indigenous Super Summit Report 2015 AIST
    The AIST Indigenous Super Summit - an initative of the Indigenous Superannuation Working Group - was a forum for the superannuation industry, Indigenous organisations, consumer bodies and government agencies to collaborate and debate the issues central to improving retirement outcomes for Indigenous communities. This event was held in National Reconciliation Week.
  • When Women Thrive, Business Thrive Report AIST / Mercer
    Renee McGowan, Partner at Mercer, showcases the 'When Woman Thrive' report findings. Despite overwhelming evidence that engaged female talent is a key driver of competitive advantage, workplace diversity remains a challenge. It’s time for tangible solutions, not just talk. It’s time for programs and policies that consider and support the career, health, and financial well-being of women across every phase of their professional journey. Employers need to ask themselves — when will women thrive?
    Watch Renee McGowan's presentation.
2014
  • Women's Super Summit Report - February 2014 Women in Super / AIST
    AIST and WIS combined to hold the inaugural Women’s Super Summit on February 3rd 2014, inviting representatives from Government agencies, universities, research organisations, superannuation funds and other key stakeholders to participate.

  • Women in Work Index PwC

    The PwC Women in Work Index published in March 2014 shows that Australia ranked 9th out of 27 OECD countries in 2012 across a wide range of gender based employment statistics. Australia ranks 24th (4th from the bottom) on female full-time employment in the labor force.

2013
  • Male Champions of Change: Accelerating the advancement of women in leadership
    The Male Champions of Change was established in April 2010 by Elizabeth Broderick, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner and comprises a group of 21 CEOs, department heads and non-executive directors from across business and federal government. Tapping into the full talent pool will give us a diversity advantage, creating commercial, societal and economic value. The group had identified four key themes for leaders wanting to attract and advance more women and captitalise on the advantages of a gender-balanced organisation - stepping up as leaders, creating accountability, disrupting the status quo and dismantling the barriers for carers.