ASFA strikes lucrative education deal

The big superannuation fund covering Commonwealth public servants, ComSuper has moved to significantly upgrade the skills of its staff by appointing the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) to provide training to Associate Diploma of Superannuation Management and Diploma of Financial Services (Superannuation) level.

The arrangement, which is believed to be a first, will see 120 staff undertake the two ASFA courses in what will be part of an ongoing process.

ComSuper general manager, Cindy Briscoe said the fund was positioning itself to expand its services to members and maintain its position as a proficient administrator.

“We see an emphasis on learning and development activities that have a clear connection with ComSuper’s work, and that assist our staff in their ongoing careers, as a vital part of this process,” she said.

Prior to entering into the arrangement with ASFA around 200 ComSuper staff had already been trained to PS146 level and these people will be exempted from some components of the diplomas.

ASFA education and training manager, Paul O’Brien said the opportunity to train the ComSuper staff represented an exceptional opportunity in circumstances where the big fund had never entered into such arrangements.

ComSuper provides superannuation administration services to the trustees responsible for the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS), Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS), Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSBS) and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) schemes.