Milestones Change for Young Teachers

Young educators are placing greater importance on retirement than on major life milestones such as buying a home, taking a bucket list trip or starting a family.

The shift indicates young teachers believe having everything; work, travel, a home and a family is impossible and are starting to look at the finish line very early on in their careers.

Of the nearly 500 Australian education workers aged 18-35 surveyed, 79% say saving for retirement is personally important to them - significantly higher than those who rate saving for a home deposit (55%), a dream holiday (58%) or major life events like a wedding or having a child (52%) as important.

While day-to-day financial pressures like making ends meet (85%) and increasing income (81%) remain front of mind, the findings suggest a shift in how young educators are defining financial success - placing greater weight on long-term stability than on traditional financial milestones in the near term.

Toby Perkins, a Certified Financial Planner, said building simple habits early can help young professionals stay on track over time, “For many young educators, the focus will rightly be on day-to-day finances,” he said.

“But simple steps- like regularly engaging with your super and understanding how it’s working for you - can put you in a stronger position over time. That’s what helps people take control of their financial future and enjoy life, both before and after retirement.”

The research also found that while 21% of young teachers knew their super balance to the nearest $1,000 and 44% knew their approximate balance, 25% had only a vague idea and 11% had no idea what their balance was. “There’s a stronger understanding now among our younger people that super is their money, rather than something distant or abstract,” Perkins said.

Natalie Previtera, CEO at NGS Super who conducted the survey, said the findings challenge the idea that younger Australians are disengaged from their financial future.

“It’s striking that young educators are placing more importance on retirement than on milestones that have traditionally defined financial progress, like buying a home or starting a family,” Previtera said.

“That suggests we’re seeing a shift in how younger Australians think about financial security - one that’s more long-term, but also more cautious.

"Planning for a comfortable retirement and living a full life shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. When people in their 20s and 30s are already thinking this way, it raises important questions about whether the system is giving them the confidence to pursue both.”

Image Connor Martin