Community Lending for Tasmanians
Member Agency News Edition 6: December 2013 in this edition
Save on energy costs through a no interest loan
Website updates
> Federal government subsidies
MoneySmart
Home Energy Saver Scheme (HESS)
New Loan Application Forms
HESS is an Australian Government initiative operated by Good Shepherd that works with households to improve their financial and energy management practices.
New Staff Members Budget of the Month Award
HESS offers subsidies to NILS clients to help reduce the purchase price of energy-efficient key household items, which will reduce energy bills in the long-term. There is a multitude of subsidies available at the moment to encourage NILS applicants to purchase energy efficient appliances. Energy efficient appliances cost less to run and the subsidies currently available make them affordable for our clients. 118 NILS clients have already benefited from HESS, statewide. We’ve created a Cheat Sheet to help you make sure applicants have an accurate idea of the subsidy they are likely to get. Let Danita or Nic know if you haven’t received one. As always, if you are confused or in doubt about what to tell an applicant, please call NILS on 1300 301 650!
Talking Stars Training
Merry as m t s i r h C 2013
Talking Stars is part of the Home Energy Saver Scheme (HESS) which includes free training for NILS Loan Officers. The training session is online and includes practical energy tips to help support your clients to reduce their energy bills, also you can learn more about the subsidies available to clients and gain useful knowledge on home energy saving. If you would like further information on the training sessions contact danita@nilstasmania.org.au
NILS is proudly supported by
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Community Lending for Tasmanians
Loans and subsidies for insulation A state government subsidy for insulation has proven very popular and we have had a significant number of enquiries about it. We are confident that, with your help, we will soon have enough applications to fully utilize the limited subsidy funds available. We are now advising people who enquire about the subsidy that it is fully subscribed and are encouraging them to consider applying for an item eligible for a HESS loan/subsidy purposes (such as energy-efficient whitegoods and heating) which may help reduce their electricity costs. If you would like further information please contact us at NILS.
Website updated Meet our Newest NILS team members Welcome to Elias Elias Solis has joined the NILS team for six months. Elias is providing excellent support to the ever industrious Processing Team. Elias recently completed a Bachelor of Business and marketing. Elias is passionate about playing percussion and has travelled to South America to learn more.
Welcome to Andrea Andrea Munnings is on board with NILS full-time and busy processing loan applications. Andrea is married with one teenage son and believes in enjoying life to the fullest and making the most of what you have got. The NILS team now consists of 12 team members! We are growing all the time to meet client demand!
www.nilstasmania.org.au
Our updated website now has a member area where you can log in to access all the latest NILS information, forms and upcoming training. Check it out www.nilstasmania.org.au go the bottom of the home page and look for the log on button, complete the form and you will be given access. Prospective clients can now request the NILS information pack via our website. Need help with debt and It’s your money are the newest sections of our website. These tabs include: information about pay day lenders and tools to calculate the interest paid using a pay day lender. When you get a chance have a look as we would love to hear your feedback!
MoneySmart Would you like tips, tools and resources to assist clients manage their money? MoneySmart is a free service from the Australian Government and offers a range of tools and information about budgeting/saving, credit and retirement. It also has great resources for workers to access including posters, pens and other useful information. www.moneysmart.gov.au
New Loan Application Forms Loan application forms have been updated. Please see the new forms attached. If everyone could update their resources folders and start using these forms that would be wonderful. Thanks to those Members Agencies who provided us with feedback. If you have any questions please contact us at NILS. You can also access the form in the Member section of the NILS website.
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Community Lending for Tasmanians
NILS ‘Budget of the Month’ Award NILS is not just a loan for something essential. It is also an opportunity for our clients, WITH YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT, to develop the skills they need to manage on a low income.
FLEX NILS has now completed its Financial Literacy Exchange (FLEX) project which was funded by the State Government over the past six months.
The most important part of our application process is the fortnightly Income and Expenditure budget. This may be the first time our applicant has ever looked at what is happening with their money. What we are looking for in an application is that the budget considers the client’s spending in a bit of detail. This means a budget which attempts to estimate fortnightly expenditure on things like children, clothes and entertainment as well as on the essential costs like electricity and rent. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS:
We accomplished a huge amount with a small grant and are extremely grateful to each and every Member Agency and NILS Loans Officer who assisted us by attending, promoting and undertaking the wide range of training, testing and other events that were organised.
> July Shirley Hyland, Centacare Burnie
Christmas Office Hours
Congratulations to our winners! Your prize is in the mail!
> August June Wells, Ravenswood Neighbourhood House > September Leonie Kirk, Beaconsfield House > October Nicky Grey, Launceston City Mission
The NILS office will be closed on Friday 20th December and reopen on Monday 6th January 2014!
of Budget nth the Mo Award
FACT S & FIGURES Number of trained Loan Officers – State-wide
ish you all w S IL N t a We d safe n a l u f r e d n a wo and look … s a m t is r h C ing up h c t a c o t d forwar 014! 2 in e n o y r with eve
www.nilstasmania.org.au
2011
>
82 Loan Officers trained
2012
>
111 Loan Officers trained
2013
>
95 Loan Officers trained as of October
NILS Stats July–October 2013
NILS loans by region:
Loan enquiries
North West
159
700
North
183
Value of loans issued $604k
South
358
Loans issued
2336
Questions or comments? E-mail us at danita@nilstasmania.org.au