Best super fund for nurses, paramedics and healthcare workers
Healthcare work comes with shift-work wear, back injury risk, and high emotional toll — so income protection and TPD defaults matter a lot. You also want a fund that understands how maternity leave, part-time returns, and agency work affect contributions.
HESTA was built for the health and community sector. It understands career breaks, flexible work, and has advocacy baked into investment decisions. Insurance options include cover tailored for shift workers and those in physically demanding roles.
Runners up
Solid alternatives if HESTA doesn’t fit your situation:
- AustralianSuper — 7.90% p.a. 10y return, $337/yr at $50k. Australia's largest super fund by members and assets.
- Aware Super — 8.10% p.a. 10y return, $547/yr at $50k. Public-sector-origin fund, now open to all Australians.
What to check before switching
- If you work mostly in public health (NSW Health, Queensland Health), Aware Super may have better group terms
- Casual agency nurses should check contribution acceptance rules
- HESTA has strong female-lens financial advice content for super gaps after parental leave
The three things that matter for every occupation
- 10-year net return beats any marketing claim. Check the ATO YourSuper tool.
- Fees in dollars, not percentages. At your balance, what does each fund actually charge per year?
- Insurance defaults vs your actual needs. Use our insurance cost calculator to see the retirement-savings trade-off.
Use the calculator
Plug any two funds into our compare funds calculator with your actual balance — the dollar gap over 20 years can be enormous even between “similar” funds.
General information only — not financial advice. Super decisions are long-term; verify with a licensed adviser. This page is general information; the “best” fund depends on your personal circumstances.