No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS) provide people on low incomes with interest-free credit. You can borrow up to $2000 for essential items such as furniture and whitegoods, computers, some medical services and car registration. You can borrow up to $3000 to pay bond, rent in advance and rates.
Most of these loans will need to be repaid over 1–2 years. NILS loans are provided by several charitable organisations. To see if you are eligible, or to find a NILS provider near you, call Good Shepherd on 13 64 57 or visit Good Shepherd.
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Sometimes people can be too embarrassed to ask those closest to them for assistance. We got some help close to home, that doesn’t have interest added to the repayments.
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HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, Sydney, NSW; Leigh Aitken, Consumer; Mary Bairstow, Senior Social Worker, Cancer Centre, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Lynette Brailey, Team Leader Financial Counselling, Cancer Council NSW; Corinne Jones and Siew Tan, Financial Counsellors, Cancer Council VIC; Penny Jacomos, Social Worker, Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia, SA; Dr Deme Karikios, Head of Department – Medical Oncology, Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, Nepean Hospital, NSW; Valerie Parsons, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Viridian Financial Group, Melbourne, VIC.
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