No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS)-A smarter way to high interest 'fast cash’ options
How does NILs work?
Who is eligible to access a loan from Winmalee NILS?
How Much Can I Borrow?
You can borrow up to $2,000 for essential goods and services including:
- House hold items e.g. whitegoods, furniture, appliances;
- Medical, dental, wellbeing and life expenses;
- Car repairs and registration;
- Technology e.g. phone, laptop, IPad;
- Educational expenses e.g. fees, uniforms;
- Employment expenses e.g. licences or equipment.
You can borrow up to $3,000 for:
- Bond and rent in advance;
- Rates;
- Costs associated with a natural disaster.
Am I Eligible?
If you earn less than $70,000 annual income (before tax) as a single person or $100,000 annual income (before tax) if you have a partner or children;
- OR have experienced family or domestic violence in the last 10 years;
- OR have a Health Care Card/Pension Card; and
- You can show you can afford to repay the loan.
The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) offers people on low incomes, safe and affordable access to credit.
Note: NILS cannot be used for cash, holidays, debt consolidation.
The loan funds are paid to the store or service provider.
When you apply, you’ll need to provide
- 100 points of ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, Medicare card, Centrelink card, bank card or bills, including something to verify your address)
- Details about your financial situation (bank statements and/or banking details, payslips and/or current Centrelink statement, plus an estimate of your regular expenses)
- Information on existing debts (such as buy now pay later, payday loans or rent-to-buy)
- A quote or invoice that shows: the date, a description of the item/service, the supplier’s details (business name, ABN, address, phone or email), banking or payment details, and the payment amount with delivery included.
If you haven’t chosen the exact item you’d like to buy, but know the rough amount, you can talk to us about ‘pre-approval’ to see if you’ll be eligible, then supply the invoice later. Note: No Interest Loans CANNOT be used for cash. We pay directly to the supplier.
No Interest Loans (NILs) for vehicles
No Interest Loans for vehicles for people and families on low incomes to purchase a vehicle for essential use.
No Interest Loans (NILs) are available for $2000 – $5000 for the purchase of an essential vehicle including cars, scooters, mobility scooters, motorcycles and boats.
Pay back only what you borrow.
No Fees. No Interest. Ever.
Borrow up to $5000 for vehicles linked to day-to-day use including:
- car
- motorcycle
- scooter
- mobility scooter
- first year registration & stamp duty
Find out if your eligible and start your application today -phone the below outlets for NILS Vehicle loans:
ACT / NSW
Baptist Care ACT/NSW
(02) 4032 5230
nilsenquiry@baptistcare.org.au
How can I apply for a loan at Winmalee or another outlet?
To receive a loan information pack contact us via -
- phone on 02 4754 4050 and speak with Renee
- email: nils@winmaleeneighbourhoodcentre.com.au
- drop in to the Centre
The Centre can also do NILS loans via the phone with documents emailed to the Centre.
We also provide outreach in Hawkesbury. The NILS officer will meet with the applicant at an identified office site. We can conduct a loan interview at Bligh Park Community Centre or another space that is suitable.
About NILS – a short history
NILS is an interest free loan scheme initiated by Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service in Victoria. NILS is designed to assist low income and disadvantaged people access credit without the burden of interest charges or hidden fees.
NILS was introduced to the Blue Mountains by the Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre in 1998 and is now available throughout the Blue Mountains in four locations. The Centre also assists with loans in the Hawkesbury local government area.
The Centre is funded through Fair Trading to provide the 1800 NILS State referral service where those interested in a loan can ring to find out where their nearest NILS loan office is in NSW. Fair Trading also provide funding for the NILS Loan Officer.
To initiate the NILS service the Centre originally gained funding through the following:
- Private donations
- The Mercy Foundation
- The Ian Potter Foundation
- Sydney Water
- Blue Mountains City Council
- National Australia Bank (NAB)
To find another outlet you can call:
NSW NILS 1800 Free call Service on 1800 509 994
Financial Counselling
Salvation Army Financial Counselling is available at Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre. It provides free, independent and confidential face-to-face counselling in a friendly and informal environment. If you are in financial stress, or would like to manage your money more effectively, ring Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre to find out more.
Affordable Counselling. More information to come
Winmalee Community Food Cupboard
The Centre at present operates a food cupboard which has a limited supply of shelf products available for fortnightly access by low income residents or those holding a concession benefit card. We collect from Coles Winmalee produce that would otherwise go to landfill i.e. fresh fruit, vegetables and bread 5 days per week via the Secondbite Program.
To download a weekly PDF of the items available, visit the Winmalee Community Food Cupboard section on this site's home page.
Work Development Orders-now at Winmalee
Work and Development Orders (WDOs) are a way to help people who can't pay their fines. WDOs allow customers to clear their fines through unpaid work, courses and treatment programs with approved WDO sponsors. WDOs can help clients get their driver licence back and make a fresh start.
The WDO scheme delivers real change and community benefit.
The WDO scheme helps people who:
- have a mental illness
- have an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment
- have a serious addiction to drugs, alcohol or volatile substances
- are homeless
- are in acute economic hardship.
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre is now a WDO sponsor. Through our suite of emergency relief support programs that assist the community we hope this will alleviate some of the ongoing financial issues many face. The circumstances and needs of disadvantaged families and individuals in the community are a priority issue for the Centre as we have seen extreme economic and social changes which have placed many families under severe economic and emotional stress. These changes are contributing to an increase in poverty and inequality amongst many families and individuals.
If you have a fine that you cannot pay and meet the following categories phone the Centre for an appointment .
| Families and Communities | Financial Crisis and Material Aid - Emergency Relief | |
| Families and Communities | Financial Crisis and Material Aid - Emergency Relief | |
| Families and Communities | Financial Crisis and Material Aid - Emergency Relief | |
| Families and Communities | Financial Crisis and Material Aid - Emergency Relief |
Additional Savings-Cost of Living
Service NSW makes it easier to find government information and services. To see what savings you can make go to: service.NSW.gov.au
Below are just a few savings you can make:
Helps you compare electricity and gas plans and switch providers
Helps families receiving the Family Tax Benefit with their electricity costs.
Concession card holders may be able to save on a new fridge or television
Helps concession card holders with their gas costs.
Helps concession card holders with their electricity costs
Pensioners may be able to save on their water bill
Transport Assistance-Great Community Transport
Great Community Transport provides flexible small group transport to eligible disadvantaged people living in the Blue Mountains and Penrith local government area. Trips include transport to local shopping centres, other outings and medical appointments. Great Community Transport are located in the Blue Mountains and Penrith.
Blue Mountains
31 Hay Street, Lawson NSW 2783 - (02) 4759 2403
Penrith
99 Cox Ave, Kingswood NSW 2750 – (02) 4722 3083
Target Audience
Those amongst the aged population as well as people with disabilities and their carers who can’t drive, use public transport or don’t have anyone else to help with their transport requests.
Eligibility
Call for an assessment to determine eligibility.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box 124, Lawson NSW 2783
My Age Care
My Aged Care is a website and contact centre established by the Australian Government to help people navigate the aged care system. My Aged Care helps people find government-funded aged care services for older people in the community. My Aged Care provides information about:
- Assessment criteria and eligibility for services
- Costs of your aged care services
- Different types of aged care services
- How My Aged Care understands aged care needs and help them find local services
My Aged Care provides a number of services helping older people stay in their own home when transitioning from hospital, when attempting to find a residential aged care home or for carers searching for respite care.
Eligibility
Eligibility criteria to access services are available through the My Aged Care portal.
Cost
Free
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:00am-8:00pm Sat 10:00am-2:00pm
Disability Advocacy
Valley Heights Office
42 Great Western Highway, Valley Heights NSW 2777
Telephone:
Wentworth Young People's Program-Flourish Australia
The Wentworth Young People's Program provides medium-term residential supported accommodation and psychosocial rehabilitation service for young men aged 17-25 years who have a diagnosis of mental illness. These young men are case managed by a clinical case manager with support being provided in their recovery to help them gain skills to live independently in the communty. People in this program are assisted to develop social skills, daily living activities (such as cooking and budgeting) and participate in recreational, educational and vocational activities.
Address
41 Brumby Cres, Emu Plains NSW 2750
Target Audience
Young men with mental illness
Eligibility
Aged between 16-24, referrals from Sydney but priority goes to those in the Nepean Blue Mountains Region. They must have a mental illness and agree to work regularly with a case manager. They must be earning an income, whether this is from Centrelink or otherwise.
Cost
Participants pay 65% of their Centrelink income to go towards boarding.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:00am-10:00pm Sat & Sun 12:00pm-8:00pm
Local Areas
Penrith, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Lithgow
Referral
Referrals from mental health hospitals and mental health services in the Nepean Blue Mountains region.
Financial support for individuals and households
Follow the link: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/financial-support-individuals-and-households
Private rental support – Rent Choice
Rent Choice is a private rental subsidy that helps eligible clients with rental payments for up to 3 years.
Rent Choice products include:
- Tenancy Assistance – help with rent and water arrears for eligible private tenants.
- Rent Choice Start Safely – for people escaping domestic and family violence.
- Rent Choice Youth – helps people aged 16 to 24 who are homeless, or are at risk of homelessness.
- Rent Choice Veterans – for former members of the Australian Defence Force.
- Rent Choice Assist – supports households that have experienced a major financial setback.
- Private Rental Subsidy – help with medium-term accommodation, before social housing becomes available.