The costs and benefits of contributing to super

SubjectNSW Commerce YearStage 5 Curriculum Time55

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Introduction

In this activity, students consider a number of scenarios to weigh up the costs and benefits of making pre-tax contributions to superannuation. They decide whether the difference that these contributions make to their disposable income is outweighed by the long-term gains to their superannuation outcomes.

Australian Curriculum or Syllabus

This activity contributes to the following outcomes.

A student:

  • applies consumer, financial, economic, business, legal, political and employment concepts and terminology in a variety of contexts COM5-1
  • analyses key factors affecting decisions COM5-4
  • explains information using a variety of forms COM5-8
  • works independently and collaboratively to meet individual and collective goals within specified timeframes COM5-9

Related Stage 4 outcomes: COM4-1, COM4-5, COM4-6, COM4-8, COM4-9

Related Life Skills outcomes: COMLS-7, COMLS-12, COMLS-13

Content descriptions

Core 1: Consumer and Financial Decisions

Financial management

Students:

  • discuss the role and importance of long-term financial strategies, including superannuation
  • investigate tools and strategies for effective financial management, including:
    • savings and superannuation plans.

Option 2: Investing

Investment planning

Students:

  • consider factors influencing an investment portfolio for an individual or business, for example risk, diversification, short and long-term goals (ACHEK040).

Teacher resources

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Video

Why is super important?

Student learning resources

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Explainer

Contributing to super

 
Worksheet

The costs and benefits of contributing to super

 
Interactive

Moneysmart superannuation calculator

Suggested activity sequence

This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group. The activity was written for students in Stage 5, however it can be modified to suit the needs of Stage 4 students and Life skills students. If you assign this activity to a class, your students will be assigned all student resources on their 'My learning' page. You can also hand-pick the resources students are assigned by selecting individual resources when you add a work item to a class in 'My classes'.

  1. As a class, read the explainer.

    Play: Why is super important? This video is about why it’s important to know what you want and how you want to live when you’re older and how super can help.

  2. Discuss what students learned and found interesting from watching the video. What could they do to realise their retirement dreams?
  3. Students complete the worksheet. They will need to access the moneysmart superannuation calculator.
  4. Invite students to share their decisions on if and when they will salary sacrifice to their super and why.