What is NILS®?

NILS® is a No Interest Loans Scheme to help low income people buy essential household items by providing safe credit without any fees, charges or interest payments, when other financial assistance is unavailable.

Loans up to $1,200.00 can be applied for through an accredited community or welfare based organisation which is approved to offer the no interest loan to people living in particular postcodes or geographic areas. As the loan is repaid, the money is lent out again to other people. 

Barnardos is expanding its NILS® loans coverage to offer NILS® loans to low income people living near some of our Centres of Offices at AUBURN, CANBERRA and ACT, COBAR, GILGANDRA, MUDGEE, NARROMINE, NYNGAN, PENRITH (Cranebrook), QUEANBEYAN, ULTIMO, and WELLINGTON.

The number of loans that can be approved is dependent on our applicants repaying their loans and the generosity of Corporate and Government Partners who provide the capital from which the loans are funded and operational and/or staffing support.

The more funding we have, the more families we can help achieve a better quality of life and improve their capacity to manage their household finances.