A menopause support service for better retirement outcomes

Sometimes in life, we’re faced with natural challenges we can’t avoid—and those challenges can sideline us from work.

That’s especially true for menopause, which is an inevitable stage of life for all women. The physical, emotional and mental symptoms can take a toll on their careers and, as a result, affect their short and long-term financial security. That can include their retirement plans.

A 2024 study conducted by UniSuper’s life insurer, MetLife Australia, found that perimenopause and menopause negatively affected the careers of 32% of women surveyed. Over four in 10 women said menopause symptoms impacted their motivation, mental capacity and confidence at work, and only 19% felt comfortable discussing their symptoms at work. While 59% believe employers have a responsibility to provide support, just 20% positively rated their employer’s current level of menopause support.

The study also found menopausal symptoms caused an estimated average reduction of $40,000 to super balances at retirement. As a fund, our purpose is to help our members achieve great retirement outcomes—and so after seeing that number, we knew we had to do something. Hence, the MetLife 360Health Menopause Support Service was adopted, and it’s available to all UniSuper members.

How it works

The Menopause Support Service is part of 360Health’s broader suite of health and wellbeing services, which is available to UniSuper members and their families at no additional cost from the ease of their smartphone or device.

The service confidentially connects women with women’s health nurses, who will then guide the user through their menopause journey—discussing symptoms and courses of action, providing education and resources, triaging other services if required, and ultimately acting as an advocate.

As UniSuper Employer Partnerships Manager Simone Dudij explains, the Menopause Support Service’s introduction was prompted by our employer partners’ concerns about a lack of support for those enduring the condition: “The way that it (the support service) came about was feedback from employers. They were getting feedback from their staff that there weren't enough support services around this.”

Last month, we reflected on International Women’s Day as an opportunity to share how women can ensure they’re not financially worse off in retirement. There, we cited FY2021-22 ATO data that found the median super balance for women aged 60-64 was 25% less than their male counterparts.

Time out of the workforce due to menopause can be just one factor behind this discrepancy, and as Simone points out, menopause can often strike when a woman reaches the peak of her professional powers. Unless their workplace offers special menopause leave, these women often use up sick and annual leave allowances to deal with the condition.

“Usually at that age (when menopause typically comes about), you’re kind of at the height of your career, right? Your kids are maybe grown up or teenagers and you've got the time to invest in your career,” she says.

“To lose that confidence because you're suffering from some health symptoms and not be able to progress right before retirement can be detrimental. So for me, that was an eye opener, and I thought, ‘what a great thing that we can add another service to 360Health that supports that’.”

Striking a chord

A webcast was held to formally launch the service and was attended by 461 people, with an additional 230 or so watching on demand. Simone hosted the webcast and was joined by guest speaker, Dr Nicole Avard, general practitioner and founder of Metluma.

Dr Avard, who has accumulated over 25 years’ experience in her role supporting women on their menopause journey, detailed how women can manage menopause and stay connected at work, and how the support service works. The webcast included an hour-long Q&A session with Dr Avard.

“The webcast identified the need for this kind of education and support. There were so many questions, and the audience were highly engaged. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. As a super fund, it was wonderful to be able to connect and support our members this way,” Simone reflects.

Most webcast attendees were women—but a small number of men joined. Importantly, the support service is available to anyone who wants to help the special women in their lives.

“We saluted the brave men that joined the webcast because it can be an intimidating topic. But most people have a sister, a mother or a close friend that could be going through this stage of life,” Simone says.

“To be able to understand menopause, the way it can affect women and be able to have a conversation or provide support in any way will makes a difference. I know that there is a stigma around this topic; for example, my mum would never have even spoken about this. I wouldn't have even known about it. But now there's a real appetite for that need around support and education.”

We’ve been heartened to see the service resonate so strongly with our employers and their employees so far, and that we could share this webcast with non-UniSuper members. You don’t have to be a member to register for and attend our webcasts. We hope the Menopause Support Service will make a tangible difference to women’s lives and futures.