The Bendigo Superannuation Plan — superannuation fund performance
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The Bendigo Superannuation Plan reported A$1.5bn of total assets for 16,238 member accounts (average balance A$92k) in APRA's fund-level statistics for the year to 30 June 2025, with a one-year rate of return of 10.0%.
| Total assets | A$1.5bn |
| Member accounts | 16,238 |
| Average member balance | A$92k |
| 1-year rate of return | 10.0% |
| 5-year rate of return (annualised) | 6.3% |
| 10-year rate of return (annualised) | 5.3% |
| Investment options offered | — |
What running the fund costs
For its reporting year ended 30 June 2025, The Bendigo Superannuation Plan ran on an operating expense ratio of 0.2% — the running cost per dollar of savings (0.5% is 50 cents per A$100 a year). Payments to related parties — companies connected to the fund's own trustee or owner group — came to A$451k, equal to roughly 13.4% of its administration bill (a related-party payment is disclosed, not improper — but it is worth knowing who the fund pays).
| Operating expense ratio | 0.2% |
| Investment expense ratio | 0.0% |
| Administration and operating expenses | A$3.4m |
| Director remuneration | A$259k |
| Payments to related parties | A$451k |
The annual performance test
Every year the regulator tests most super products against a benchmark portfolio — fail twice and the product must close to new members. As at 30 June 2025, 9 of this fund's products and options were tested — 2 failed:
| Product / option | Type | Test result | 10-yr return | Admin fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo High Growth Index Fund | Choice | Fail | 8.9% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Balanced Wholesale Fund | Choice | Fail | 5.6% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo MySuper | MySuper | Pass | — | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Balanced Index Fund | Choice | Pass | 6.6% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Growth Index Fund | Choice | Pass | 8.0% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Conservative Index Fund | Choice | Pass | 5.2% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Conservative Wholesale Fund | Choice | Pass | 4.8% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Defensive Index Fund | Choice | Pass | 3.9% | 0.2% |
| Bendigo SmartStart Super — Bendigo Defensive Wholesale Fund | Choice | Pass | 3.7% | 0.2% |
Does the insurance pay out?
Most super accounts carry insurance, paid from your balance. The admittance rate is the share of finalised claims the insurer accepted in the year to 30 June 2025 — the single best number for "does this cover actually pay".
| Cover type | Claims accepted (1-yr) | Claims paid | Premiums collected | Insurer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life insurance (death cover) | — | — | A$2.2m | TAL Life Limited |
| Total & permanent disability (TPD) | 72.2% | — | A$1.6m | TAL Life Limited |
| Income protection | — | — | A$955k | TAL Life Limited |
The gender gap in this fund
In The Bendigo Superannuation Plan, women's average balance was 9.3% lower than men's — from the fund-level member demographics APRA last published for the year to 30 June 2022:
| Average balance — female members | A$70k |
| Average balance — male members | A$78k |
| Member accounts (female / male) | 8,696 / 11,154 |
Compare The Bendigo Superannuation Plan with similar funds
The funds closest to The Bendigo Superannuation Plan in size, side by side — each with its own page for the fees, insurance and performance-test detail:
| Fund | Assets | 1-yr return | 10-yr return | Why comparable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perpetual WealthFocus Superannuation Fund | A$1.5bn | 10.5% | 6.9% | Similar size |
| Super Simplifier | A$1.6bn | 7.9% | — | Similar size |
| NESS Super | A$1.4bn | 10.7% | 6.7% | Similar size |
| Mason Stevens Super | A$1.3bn | 8.6% | — | Similar size |
| AvWrap Retirement Service | A$1.8bn | 9.4% | 5.3% | Similar size |
| Meat Industry Employees Superannuation Fund | A$1.2bn | 8.9% | 7.4% | Similar size |
Questions this page answers
How big is The Bendigo Superannuation Plan?
The Bendigo Superannuation Plan held A$1.5bn in total assets for 16,238 member accounts in the APRA fund-level statistics for the year to 30 June 2025.
What return has The Bendigo Superannuation Plan delivered?
The Bendigo Superannuation Plan reported a 10.0% one-year rate of return, and 5.3% a year over the past ten years, at whole-of-fund level in the APRA fund-level statistics.
What does The Bendigo Superannuation Plan charge in fees?
The Bendigo Superannuation Plan reported an operating expense ratio of 0.2% and an investment expense ratio of 0.0% for its reporting year ended 30 June 2025 — the running cost per dollar of savings (APRA fund-level statistics).
Did The Bendigo Superannuation Plan's products pass the performance test?
9 of The Bendigo Superannuation Plan's products and options were tested against the regulator's annual performance test as at 30 June 2025, and 2 failed.
See also: Australian super in numbers — marketing spend, expenses, the gender gap and two decades of consolidation across all APRA-regulated funds · all tracked plans.