15 October 2025
Payday Super is coming, and Child Care Super is here to support you through this important legislative change. From 1 July 2026, super must be paid with each pay cycle, and can no longer be paid quarterly.
This could be a big shift for many early learning centres, directors, payroll teams and educators, but it’s a step towards fairness, consistency and financial wellbeing across the sector.
What’s changing?
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee (SG) must be paid to employees alongside their wages on payday (allowing up to 7 days for contributions to land).
This legislation aligns the payment of super with wages, giving early learning professionals the compounding benefits of their super’s growth and ultimately boosting retirement balances. It also aims to cut down on missed or delayed payments, and make the system fairer and more transparent.
Once implemented, this change should also make payroll management smoother, with fewer liabilities building up on the books.
The Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) will close on the same day, 1 July 2026. This means employers will need to transition to another solution.
Alternative solutions include your accounting platform, if it provides this functionality or another clearing house such as SuperConnector. If you are a default superannuation partner of Child Care Super you can sign up to use SuperConnector at no extra cost.
To sign up, call us on 1800 060 215 to arrange a default employer application.
Why the change?
This Australia-wide change is being implemented by the ATO for several reasons. It reduces the risk of employees’ super being underpaid or missing payments. Sending super out with the pay run helps streamline processes for businesses as well as creating more transparency for both employer and employee. It also gives the ATO more oversight of employer obligations.
For early learning workers, the benefit is immediate, impactful and straightforward: their super starts working for them sooner. More regular contributions means more opportunities for compounding growth, reducing lost earnings and the risk of super slipping through the cracks.
For those who manage payroll or HR in early learning businesses, there are a few things to be aware of and plan for.
Review payroll systems: You’ll need to make sure that your systems software can process super contributions in real time.
Assess cash flow: Review whether paying super weekly or fortnightly might require any budgeting adjustments.
Onboarding: New staff details need to be collected before their first pay cycle. With stapling rules in play, acting quickly on fund details is crucial.
Set up reconciliations: More frequent payments mean more reconciliations – and a higher need to catch errors early.
Penalties: Late or missed payments incur extra charges and interest under the new SG charge, so it’s important to stay informed, plan and review current payroll systems.
Software solutions: For smaller businesses, note that the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House will close on the same date these changes take effect: 1 July 2026. This means you may need to transition to different accounting software like Xero or MYOB or an alternative clearing house like SuperConnector before that date.
What it means for employees
For Child Care Super members, this is a positive change. Instead of waiting three months for super to land in your account, you’ll see contributions flow in regularly. This enables more consistent growth in your retirement saving.
Eliminating the lag between earning and saving ensures your super is invested and working sooner. This could mean more money for your retirement as more regular contributions help grow your super faster – thanks to compounding returns.
According to super policy body ASFA, a 25-year-old median income earner currently receiving quarterly super payments will retire with an extra $6,000, just by receiving their super fortnightly.
Getting your super contributions on payday gives you a clearer visibility of your financial future – and it’s easier to check that you’re being paid the right amount of super. It’s another step towards closing gaps in retirement outcomes, particularly in sectors with a high proportion of women.
Get ahead of the change
Payday Super takes effect in the 2027 financial year, which begins on 1 July 2026. If your business has been paying super on a separate schedule to payroll, it’s time to start thinking about this transition.
For employers: start talking with your payroll provider now. Early adoption can help smooth the transition.
For members: Keep an eye on your Child Care Super account and ask questions if you’re unsure.
For everyone: Remember, this change is designed to make super fairer, more transparent and ultimately more rewarding.
At Child Care Super, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Reach out to your Relationship Manager (for employers) or Coaching team (for members) if you need us.
Check the Treasury’s factsheet for more guidance
Need a Clearing House Solution?
If you use Child Care Super as your default super provider, you can use SuperConnector, it’s a complimentary service available to our partners.
Need a Clearing House Solution?
If you use Child Care Super as your default super provider, you can use SuperConnector, it’s a complimentary service available to our partners.