For many Papua New Guineans, owning a home is a lifelong dream, one that can often feel difficult to achieve while balancing family responsibilities and everyday expenses.

For Mr. Irenius Tiula, that dream became possible through careful planning, discipline, and a better understanding of the value of his superannuation savings.

A long-serving public servant from East New Britain, Mr. Tiula believes Members should not wait until retirement to think about how their superannuation can help them build a more secure future.

His journey began years ago when he started contributing to Nambawan Super Limited (NSL). Like many Members, he understood that deductions were being made from his salary, but he did not fully understand the benefits available to him or the value of the savings he was building.

Early in his career, Mr. Tiula signed up for voluntary contributions (VC). However, at the time, he did not fully understand the long-term benefits of making additional contributions. It was only years later, when he reached out to enquire about NSL’s Housing Advance (HA), that he began to appreciate the importance of his superannuation savings and how he could use his benefits responsibly.

“I never really knew how much I had accumulated or how I could use my benefits to improve my future,” he shared.

“When I started asking questions about HA, I realised I had been building something important through my contributions.”

Mr. Tiula said his decision to access the Housing Advance was also influenced by seeing other Members spend many years working without fully understanding or making use of the benefits available to them.

“I have seen fellow colleagues in the public service pass away without enjoying the benefits they had worked for or without making plans to secure their families,” he said.

“For me, I wanted to use my benefits while I was still working. I wanted to create security for my family and also make use of the opportunities available to me.”

Before building his first home, Mr. Tiula took an important first step — purchasing land.

“Before I built my house, I bought my land first. I knew I needed to have something that belonged to me and my family,” he said.

With the land secured, he began planning how he could turn it into a home. Through NSL’s Housing Advance, Mr. Tiula was able to access part of his accumulated superannuation savings to support his construction plans.

However, he quickly learned that building a home required more than financial support. It required preparation, commitment, and careful management.

The Housing Advance process required him to plan his construction, engage suitable and qualified tradespeople, source building materials, prepare a budget, and ensure the project was properly managed.

“At first, it was challenging because I had to understand the requirements, find someone who could help build the house, and organise the materials needed,” he explained.

With determination and careful planning, Mr. Tiula worked through each step and eventually completed his first home.

“Walking into my own house for the first time was a very happy moment. Before that, I worried about suitable accommodation for my family. Having my own home gave me peace of mind.”

But his journey did not end there. Through continued discipline and responsible financial planning, Mr. Tiula went on to build a second home, which he is now living in with his family. The first house is being rented out, and his third house is nearing completion.

He credits his achievements to making sacrifices, staying focused on his goals, and recognising that his superannuation was an investment in his future.

“I knew I had to make sacrifices because I was building something for my family. Sometimes the take-home pay was not much, but I knew I was creating something that would continue supporting my family.”

To support his household and his long-term plans, Mr. Tiula and his family also established additional sources of income, including operating a small canteen. The extra income helped supplement his salary while he continued working towards his goals.

“We did not just depend on one income. My family helped through the canteen, planting gardens, and the houses also provided support. We planned together.”

Mr. Tiula also understands that accessing Housing Advance comes with responsibility. After using the benefit, he continued making additional contributions to rebuild his superannuation savings and prepare for retirement.

In addition to the required 2% additional contribution after accessing Housing Advance, Mr. Tiula has chosen to increase his contributions further so he can rebuild his retirement savings faster.

“I want to rebuild my savings because that is my future. I am happy to contribute more because I know I am preparing for retirement while also taking care of my family today.”

His commitment has allowed him to continue growing his superannuation while using the Housing Advance benefit to support his home ownership journey.

For younger Members, Mr. Tiula’s advice is simple: start early, understand your benefits, and plan ahead.

“Do not wait until you are old to think about your future. While you are working, that is the time to plan. Do not think owning a home is impossible. Start with a plan, be disciplined, and make the right choices and decisions.”