Introduction
The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) offers safe and affordable access to credit to people on low incomes in NSW.
Note: The dollar amounts on this page refer to Australian Dollar.
What you need to know
- The loans are interest free.
- There are no fees.
- Repayments are arranged so you have the capacity to pay without going into further financial hardship.
- NILS cannot be used for cash, bills or debts.
- NILS is not for emergency relief during financial crisis.
- The loan funds are paid to the store or service provider.
Credit available
Essential items
You can borrow up to A$2,000 (two thousand dollars) for essentials items such as:
- whitegoods (such as stoves, fridges, washing machines and dryers)
- essential household furniture
- educational necessities such as computers, laptops and textbooks
- some medical and dental services
- car repairs and registration
- *Phones, tablets and portable electronic devices are capped at $1,000
- other essential items may be considered.
Housing related expenses
You can borrow up to A$3,000 (three thousand dollars) for:
- bond for a new property
- costs associated with a natural disaster.
Eligibility
To be eligible for NILS you'll need to:
- have a health care card/pension card, or
- have experienced family or domestic violence in the last 10 years, or
- meet the earnings criteria, which is:
- for singles – A$70,000 (seventy thousand dollars) per year, before tax
- for couples or people with dependants – A$100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) per year, before tax.
- have lived at your current address for a minimum of 3 months.
You'll also need to show that you're able to repay the loan in the given time period.
Contact
Contact your local NILS provider or call Good Shepherd on 13 64 57.
Last updated: 18 June 2025