Superannuation (or super for short) was set up by the Keating government to help fund Aussie’s retirements. It isn’t an investment itself, it is more of a vehicle that you can invest in to grow your money over time. There are very generous tax concessions for those who contribute to super and for when you retire and access your money, and your employer (unless you are self-employed) must contribute at least 9.5% of your salary to your chosen super fund (this will increase to 12% over the coming years).
You are able to invest your superannuation in a way you see fit, however, different funds will have different options for you so it is important to choose the right fund. You can invest aggressively, moderately or conservatively, with many super funds offering investments in shares, property, term deposits and some even offering commodities & currencies.