Growing your super with extra contributions – what are your choices?

25 September 2026

When it comes to growing your super, you have more choices than you might think.

For most working Australians, employer contributions provide the foundation for their retirement savings. Employers generally contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings through the Superannuation Guarantee. But what your employer contributes doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

You can choose to add a little extra from each pay, make a one-off contribution when you have money to spare, or take advantage of certain tax benefits or government incentives if you’re eligible. You may even be able to help your partner grow their super.

There’s no single way to contribute that suits everyone. Your income, age, tax position, family circumstances and what you want to achieve can all influence which option may suit you.

See how much you may need to contribute

Whether retirement is many years away or just around the corner, making additional contributions could help you build the super you need to achieve your retirement goals.

To get started, check your current balance by logging in to Member Online or the Brighter Super mobile app.

You can then use our retirement calculators to see whether you’re on track, explore different contribution levels and understand the impact they could have on your retirement.

• The Retirement Income Calculator estimates your projected super balance and income at the age you plan to retire. You can compare different contribution amounts and see how they could affect your retirement savings and income. The calculator also considers investment returns, fees, inflation and any Age Pension you may be eligible to receive.
• The What Age Can I Retire? Calculator helps you estimate when you may be able to afford to retire. It shows where you are now, where you may want to be and the changes you could make to help achieve the retirement lifestyle you want.

Once you have an idea of how much extra you may need to contribute, you can explore the different contribution options available.

Before tax or after tax – what’s the difference?

Additional contributions can generally be made before or after tax.

Before-tax contributions, also known as concessional contributions, include employer and salary sacrifice contributions, as well as personal contributions you claim as a tax deduction. They’re generally taxed at 15% when they enter your super fund, although different tax treatment can apply in some circumstances.

After-tax contributions, also known as non-concessional contributions, are made from money you’ve already paid income tax on and don’t claim as a tax deduction. They can include personal contributions and contributions made by your spouse, and generally aren’t taxed when they enter your super account.

Both can help build your retirement savings. Which may suit you depends on your circumstances.

If you want to contribute from your pay – salary sacrifice

Small, regular contributions can add up over time. For many people, salary sacrifice is one of the simplest and most tax-effective ways to grow their super.

Salary sacrifice is an arrangement between you and your employer to contribute part of your before-tax salary into your super account. Salary sacrifice contributions are generally taxed at 15% when they enter your super.

If your marginal tax rate is higher than 15%, you may pay less tax on the money you contribute through salary sacrifice than if you received it as take-home pay.

Use our Salary Sacrifice Calculator to help you explore how different contribution amounts could affect your take-home pay, tax and super savings.

If salary sacrifice is a choice you’d like to explore, talk to your employer about setting up an arrangement.

Learn more about salary sacrifice

If you have money available to contribute – personal contributions

If you have extra money available, personal contributions can give you the flexibility to add it to your super when it suits you. You can make a one-off payment or contribute smaller amounts regularly.

They’re generally made from money you’ve already paid income tax on, such as savings or take-home pay, and generally aren’t taxed when they enter your super account.

You can make personal contributions in different ways, including through BPAY which you can find by logging into Member Online, or by arranging for your employer to deduct an amount from your after-tax pay.

If you’re eligible, you may choose to claim a tax deduction for some, or all, of your personal contributions. For eligibility, refer to the Australian Taxation Office website.

While personal contributions are paid from after-tax money, when claimed as a tax deduction they will count towards the concessional contributions cap and be taxed at 15%.

Learn more about making personal contributions, including how to claim a tax deduction online.

Other contribution types

Here are some other ways you may be able to add to your super.

• Adding to your partner’s super

  If you are married or in a de-facto relationship, you and your partner can help grow each other’s superannuation. Find out more about super for your partner.

• Government support for low and middle incomes

  The Government can help low and middle-income earners save for retirement in two ways: super co-contributions, and low income superannuation tax offset (LISTO). Find out more about Government super contributions.

• Downsizer super contributions

  People aged 55 years and over can make a super contribution of up to $300,000 from the proceeds of selling their home. Find out more about downsizer super contributions.

Before contributing, know your limits

There are limits to how much you and your employer can contribute to your super each financial year. These are known as contribution caps, and you may have to pay extra tax if you exceed them.

Here are the two contribution caps for financial year 2026/27:

• Concessional contributions cap: $32,500

  This is for before-tax contributions, such as employer contributions, salary sacrifice and personal contributions you claim as a tax deduction.

  You may also be eligible to carry forward unused concessional cap amounts from previous financial years.

• Non-concessional contributions cap: $130,000

  This is for after-tax contributions, such as personal contributions not claimed as a tax deduction and spouse contributions.

  You may also be eligible to bring forward up to three years of non-concessional contributions, depending on your total super balance and other eligibility requirements. Different rules apply to downsizer contributions, which don’t count towards your non-concessional contributions cap.

Learn more about contribution caps

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your contributions throughout the year. You can check contributions to your Brighter Super account through Member Online or the Brighter Super mobile app.

If you have super with more than one fund, remember that the contribution caps apply to your total contributions across all your accounts. You can check your total contributions through myGov.

Bringing your super together in one account could make it easier to monitor your contributions and manage your super. The link below outlines some things to consider before consolidating.

Find out more about consolidating your super

Build your super, your way

There’s no single way to give your super an extra boost. What works for you today may change as your circumstances and plans for retirement change.

The important thing is knowing you have choices – and understanding them can help you make more informed decisions about how you grow your super.

Our team of superannuation specialists and financial advisers are always here to help you.

We offer our members Super Health Check appointments over the phone, at no additional cost. We look at the current health of your super, discuss different ways to grow it, and check that you are on track for a comfortable life after work.

For a deeper analysis of your financial situation and future goals, our financial advice service can help you plan for a brighter future.

Call us on 1800 444 396 to discuss the type of appointment that would suit you best.