The SMSF Association is helping strengthen the professionalism and capability of individuals operating in Australia’s self managed super fund (SMSF) sector by providing aspiring and established practitioners with greater opportunities to achieve specialist accreditation.
The 2026 SMSF Specialist Scholarship program is designed to make specialist accreditation more accessible, while supporting a culture of ongoing professional development across the SMSF sector.
SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess congratulated this year’s scholarship recipients, saying, “Their commitment to developing their specialist SMSF knowledge and professional capability is a positive reflection of the standards we want to see across our sector.
“Ongoing professional development and accreditation play a vital role in strengthening the SMSF profession. By supporting more practitioners to develop their expertise and achieve accreditation, we are building a more capable and trusted profession that can deliver better outcomes for SMSF members,” Mr Burgess said.
The value of specialist accreditation is reflected in the experiences and appreciation of previous scholarship recipients.
Matthew Ross, Sandstone Advisory and 2025 scholarship recipient, said, “Participating in the SMSF Specialist Scholarship program has been a rewarding experience both professionally and personally. The course content, combined with access to leading industry experts, has strengthened my technical knowledge and allowed me to deliver greater value to clients.”
Fellow 2025 scholarship recipient Cheyne Whitford, Partner at Hales Douglass Financial Services, agreed saying, “The scholarship program was a great way for me to further my specialist knowledge regarding SMSFs.
“Having attained the accreditation of an SMSF Specialist Advisor provides a point of difference and allows me to expand my service offering even further.”
The scholarship program is supported by industry partners ASF Audits and Class, whose commitment to investing in professional development helps create more pathways for practitioners to develop their expertise and pursue accreditation.
An ASF Audits spokesperson said the organisation was proud to support an initiative that contributes to the long-term strength of the SMSF profession.
“Backing opportunities like this reflects our commitment to the long-term strength of the SMSF sector, helping to develop skilled, capable professionals who will shape its future. We congratulate this year’s recipients and look forward to seeing what they achieve.”
Tim Steele, CEO, Class said, “The SMSF Association Scholarship Program plays an important role in developing the next generation of SMSF specialists. As a long-standing supporter of the SMSF sector, we believe ongoing education and professional development are essential to maintaining trust, professionalism and high-quality outcomes. We’re proud to continue supporting this initiative alongside ASF Audits as part of our broader commitment to empowering accountants, advisers and auditors with the solutions, expertise and support they need to succeed.”