June quarter 2011 Volume 1, Issue 1

NATIONAL NILS E-BULLETIN

The 2011 National NILS conference celebrating 30 years of NILS was recently held in Melbourne with over 350 dele-gates from across Australia. The conference was an oppor-tunity to reflect and learn from our collective and very diverse experiences.

Keynote speakers included Chris Connolly, Centre for Social Impact, NSW; Wilma Gallet of Gallet & Associates; Lisa Gray, Group Executive Personal Banking from the National Australia Bank; and Andrew Tyndale, founder of Grace Mutual Limited.

The Hon. Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous affairs announced further funding of $26 million to support Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service (GSYFS) microfinance programs over the next four years, recognising the positive impact that NILS has provided to low income Australians.

In the spirit of the 30 year anniversary of NILS, it was fitting to reflect on ‘NILS at the beginning’, and Gavan Podbury recalled signing the first loan as a worker at Good Shep-herd’s Collingwood location 27 years ago. He joined a panel of speakers in looking back on ‘the history of NILS’, including Sister Cecilia Wiltshire, Macarthur NILS, NSW; Tim O’Leary, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NAB; and Karen Den-ham, Queensland NILS State Coordinator.

We received extremely positive feedback regarding the four workshops covering such diverse topics as NILS Sustainability and targeted NILS models. (cont’d next page)

NATIONAL NILS CONFERENCE ~ celebrating 30 years

The Hon. Jenny Macklin, MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Ser-vices and Indigenous Affairs, addresses the Conference - 'NILS—Fostering an Inclusive Australia’.

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Welcome to the inaugural National NILS E-Bulletin. We aim to provide ongoing, updated information on what’s going on in your program, your state and across the nation. We hope that this bulletin is a space where you can share with the rest of the Na-tional NILS Network news, ideas and practice wis-dom. We encourage you to offer any contributions for further editions.

Kathy Kroes, Program Manager, Microfinance and Community

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Volume 1, Issue 1

The option of two lectures was also received positively. Perhaps the most popular activity was the Networking tables on Day 2, which drew positive feedback from most delegates.

Another experience that was received with great enthusiasm was the performance at the Welcome Reception by indigenous opera soprano, actor and playwright, Deborah Cheetham.

Many thanks to all who attended; we appreci-ate your time, input and feedback. Your hard work and dedication to the success of NILS makes it what it has grown to become today.

Indigenous Soprano, Deborah Cheetham, performs for attendees of the NILS Conference Welcome Reception.

Good Shepherd Sisters Joan Murphy, Noelene White and Monica Walsh, cut the NILS 30th Birthday cake at the NILS Conference.

Wurundjeri Tribe Land & Compensation Cultural Heritage Council Inc Dancers.

MICROFINANCE PORTAL

At Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service (GSYFS)

Microfinance, we have been referring to the devel-

opment of a new database to assist with your deliv-

ery of microfinance programs as Project SHORN.

A key development in the process of providing this

database to the Microfinance Network, we have

developed a Portal - an on-line location that will

grow to become an improved Microfinance Provider

Network login area, providing you with all your

administrative and resource needs.

This is part of a phased delivery of Project SHORN

and is part of our commitment in assisting the

Microfinance Network as Australia’s largest microfi-

nance community.

This Portal is located on the re-worked Good

Shepherd Youth & Family Service website

www.goodshepvic.org.au although changes to the

overall site mean you may need to re-save the link

to your Favourites.

To access the Portal on the new GSYFS website:

• Click on Our Services and scroll down to se-

lect Microfinance Network

• Click on the link ‘Log in here to the secure

Provider Network Portal’ at the top of the

page

• Log in using the temporary Username and

Password provided below (note the password

cannot be cut and pasted, but must be entered

afresh every time):

Username: bofuu\nilsprovider

Password: Shepherd1

There are a number of resources available on the

Portal at this time, including presentations from the

recent National NILS Conference. Please note that

it is still undergoing construction and will be added

to and fine-tuned over the next few months. Pro-

viders will also be issued with more personalized

logins sometime in the near future.

As part of the development of the database and

ensuring our commitment to encouraging your par-

ticipation in the development of Microfinance across

Australia, we are asking for expressions of interest

in playing a part in the database development in

the form of a Project Participation Group. If you

think that you would like to contribute to the devel-

opment of the database, please contact us at Good

Shepherd Youth & Family Service through either

your State Coordinator or your state’s Quality and

Development Officer.

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Volume 1, Issue 1

NSW Due to the NSW State Government injection of funds of over $5 million, for three years, to NILS providers for administration of their schemes across NSW in 2008, there has been a huge growth in the number of providers and locations across the State. This funding included the ap-pointment of two full-time workers in the 1800 Free-call Project and NILS State Co-ordinator positions.

There are currently 53 community and church cased organisations providing NILS at 109 loca-tions.

The total number of active loans in NSW for 2010 was 3,645, with 828 of these loans being lent to those people who identified as being from an Indigenous background. Female recipients numbered 2,036 and males numbered 1,174. The average loan amount was recorded as $778.

NSW NILS Providers received $2,936,000 in operational funding and $673,500 in One-Off grant funding over the past 12 months from the Federal Government through FaHCSIA.

NAB capital received by NILS NSW Providers was recorded as 45 programs with access to over $3 million in loan capital.

Congratulations to Anglicare Western NSW for their NILS expansion into Forbes, Gilgandra and Mudgee and also to Baptist Community Services for their outreach into Broken Hill, Dubbo, Newcastle, Wellington and Jannali.

The newest NSW NILS Providers are the Byron Community Centre NILS and Qard Hassan NSW NILS.

At the time of going to press, funding from OFT for NILS NSW has been extended for a further 12 months, after which time an Expression of Interest will be asked for from Providers.

Lyn Trindall, State NILS Coordinator, NSW.

MURU MITTIGAR NILS

Muru Mittigar NILS is a new program which will focus on the needs of indigenous clients in a wide area of the outer western suburbs of Sydney. The program is under the auspice of the Muru Mittigar Aboriginal and Education Centre and will cover postcodes 2145, 2147, 2148, 2155, 2160, 2161, 2164, 2165, 2166, 2170, 2178, 2560, 2564, 2570, 2780, 2765, 2767, 2768, 2770, 2774, 2775, 2778, 2780, 2783, 2785.

Contact: Muru Mittigar NILS

89-151 Old Castlereagh Road

Castlereagh NSW 2749

Tel: 02 4729 2377

ST VINCENT DE PAUL NSW NILS

The St Vincent de Paul Society of NSW has been actively running NILS programs in NSW for many years. It has recently developed a common set of policies and procedures covering all its programs, including a new outlet at Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast.

St Vincent de Paul Ulladulla NILS is expected to come on stream in early July 2011 and will cover postcode 2539.

Contact: SVDP Ulladulla NILS

251 Green Street

Ulladulla NSW 2539

Tel: 02 4455 5666

BAPTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES NILS

Baptist Community Services NSW and ACT (BCS) is expanding its NILS programs in conjunction with its Food4Life Program. BCS has just opened two new NILS outlets—one at Wellington in Western NSW and the other at Jannali, the first in Sydney’s burgeoning Sutherland Shire.

BCS also has NILS programs at Warilla (south of Wollongong), Newcastle, Dubbo and Broken Hill/Wilcannia.

Contact: BCS Food4Life NILS

32 Maughan Street

Wellington NSW 2820

Tel: 02 6845 3980

QARD HASSAN IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Qard Hassan was officially launched on 19th May 2011 and is now taking loan applications. The program operates under the auspice of the Muslim Village NSW. While the program focuses on the needs of Muslims, it is open to both Muslims and non-Muslims who live anywhere in NSW. The program has been certified as complying with Islamic Law.

Contact: Qard Hassan NILS

Suite 2, 38 Railway Parade

Lakemba NSW 2195

Tel: 1300 964 292

ANGLICARE CANBERRA AND GOULBURN NILS

Anglicare NILS programs in Bega and Moruya have come under the umbrella of Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn NILS with a new set of common policies and procedures. In addition, the program is expanding its activities with an outlet opening shortly in Wagga Wagga to cover the Riverina. It will cover postcodes 2650, 2663, 2722, 2701, 2666, 2700, 2705, 2644, 2652, 2720, 2653 and 2730.

Contact: Anglicare Riverina NILS

6-12 Church Street

Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

Tel: 02 6937 1555

BYRON COMMUNITY NILS

Byron Community NILS was formerly part of the highly successful Northern Rivers NILS but is now operating independently. The new program, under the auspice of Byron Bay Community Association, is centered on Byron Bay. It is a generalist NILS with a loan limit of $1200 (excluding motor vehicle expenses) covering postcodes 2479, 2481, 2482 and 2483.

Contact: Byron Community NILS

69 Jonson Street

Byron Bay NSW 2481

Tel: 02 6685 6807

WELCOME NEW NILS PROGRAMS

Contact: BCS Food4Life NILS

557 Box Road

Jannali NSW 2226

Tel: 02 9528 7492

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Volume 1, Issue 1

QUEENSLAND The Queensland NILS footprint has grown with pro-grams delivering at locations across the state.

The following facts are a demonstration of this growth:

• The number of Queensland NILS programs have grown from 9 to 40

• NAB capital for NILS is now in excess of $4 million.

• NAB has also allocated an additional $million to assist programs in flood and cyclone affected areas of the state.

• Over 1500 people from around the state benefitted from a NILS loan last year.

• Over 3000 people have received a NILS loan since programs have has access to NAB capital.

• In recognition of the vastness of our state, NAB provided additional funding to employ a Community Development Worker (Kelly Kinder) in the Central Queensland area.

• StepUP is now delivered from 4 locations.

• AddsUP is available to clients that have successfully repaid a NILS loan

• Federal funding to GSYFS via FaHCSIA was delivered to NILS programs across the state to assist in the delivery of loans. This amount totaled $2 million.

Karen Denham, State NILS Coordinator, Queensland

ELORAC PLACE NILS

Elorac Place NILS is a generalist program located in the Brisbane South/Ipswich area. It is auspiced by Community Action in Carole Park Inc, it replaced a previous specialist program known as CAICP Transition NILS. The loan limit is $1200 and the area covered will include postcodes 4078, 4300, 4076 and 4077.

Contact:

Elorac Place NILS

11a Southampton Road

Ellen Grove QLD 4078

Tel: 07 3271 3592

LIFELINE DARLING DOWNS & SOUTH WEST QLD NILS

Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland NILS is a generalist program located in West Queensland. It is auspiced by Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland Inc. The loan limit is proposed as $2000, specifically as a flood response and the area covered includes post codes 4343, 4344, 4347, 4350, 4352, 4355, 4356, 4357, 4358, 4401, 4403 and 4404.

Contact:

Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland NILS

5 Mill Street

Toowoomba QLD 4350

Tel: 1300 991 443

TARA NILS

Tara NILS is a generalist program operating in West Queensland under the auspice of Tara & District Family Support Centre. The loan limit is $1200 and the area covered will include postcodes 4421, 4422, 4423 and some of 4066.

Contact:

Tara NILS

Tara Neighbourhood Centre

49 Day Street

Tara QLD 4421

Tel: 07 4665 3808

Please note, not all programs will be currently operational. Speak to your State

Coordinator for confirmation.

Delegates attending the Qld Training in Melbourne 11th May.

CTNC Inc NILS

CTNC Inc. NILS is a generalist program located in North Queensland. It is auspiced by Charters Towers Neighbour-hood Centre Inc. The loan limit is $1200 and the area covered includes the Charters Towers Regional Council (postcode 4820).

Contact:

CTNC Inc NILS

Charters Towers Neighbourhood Centre

3 Powell Lane

Charters Towers QLD 4820

Tel: 07 4787 4797

SEEDS OF HOPE NILS

Seeds of Hope NILS is a generalist program located in the Brisbane South area and is auspiced by Seeds of Hope Community Services Ltd. The loan limit is $1200 and the area covered includes postcodes 4209, 4211, 4213 and 4226.

Contact:

Seeds of Hope NILS

148 Eastlake Street

Carrara QLD 4211

Tel: 07 5525 3534

Dates of Interest

July 31: Half Yearly NILS Statistical data due

Aug 8/9: Central Queensland Training and Network-

ing at George Street Neighbourhood Centre,

Mackay

Aug 17: South East Queensland Network Meeting

Sep 1: First September Northern Queensland

Network Meeting.

Nov 9: South East Queensland Network Meeting

Nov 14: Central Queensland Network Meeting

Dec 1: North Queensland Network Meeting

WELCOME NEW NILS PROGRAMS

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Volume 1, Issue 1

VICTORIA From July to December 2010, NILS programs in Victoria provided 1542 loans, with a total loan value of $1,118,167.

With the addition of two new programs being recently accredited, there will be 95 programs delivering NILS from 157 locations around Victoria.

It is not expected in the short term that there will be any significant growth of new programs in Victoria—we are now in a consolidation phase and will look to be more strategic in the placement of new programs.

The State Government has provided ongoing funding to support NILS going into the future and as a result of this funding, we have appointed a Metro Melbourne Microfinance Capacity Consultant and entered into consul-tancy agreements with Anglicare Victoria and Wimmera UnitingCare to provide Microfinance Capacity Consultants to better support the Gippsland and Wimmera Regions.

The regional networks have continued to develop with NILS programs coming together to share their knowledge and information and offer support to other programs in their region. The roll out of the FaHCSIA grants had had a very positive impact on programs with quite a number of new workers coming into the NILS sector giving a fantastic boost to delivery of NILS.

Kathleen Hosie, State NILS Coordinator, Victoria

NORTHERN TERRITORY The impact of the NAB capital funding is now being dem-onstrated in the increased number of loans that are able to be provided in the Northern Territory. The operational fund-ing has also encouraged us to expand our services both in the range of loans we offer and in the partnerships we are developing.

We have some new Money Management Workers who work with people on the recently expanded NT Income Management, and they are also proficient in providing NILS. This means that NILS clients have direct access to financial literacy training both formal and incidental. The money management workers go out to regional indigenous communities and we are planning to expand the NILS to these areas. We have also recently made arrangements to link into the regional Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education to provide financial literacy programs to their students. We find that NILS is an excellent forum from which to offer budgeting services.

With a majority of people throughout the NT now having their Centrelink payments quarantined we have had to adapt to the new means of loan repayment. The quaran-tined amount may be used to repay the loan but the normal Centrelink forms cannot be used. For each client we have to contact Centrelink in the presence of the client and make verbal arrangements. They often call us back at a later date to confirm the details. In theory this just means a bit of extra work but in practice it sometimes means that payments are not correctly recorded and we have to call the clients back into the office or take a phone with us to their home to re-establish payments. We have also been informed that overpayments, which have previously been very few and returned to the client in the form of a cheque, if they are from quarantined funds must be returned to Centrelink not the client.

Marilyn Roberts, NT NILS Coordinator

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT

GRANTS & CONCESSIONS:

News that the Victorian Government will be provid-ing an additional $414.3 million over the next four years to boost electricity, water and sewerage concessions to low income households was wel-comed in the recent 2011-2012 budget announce-ment.

The White Goods Appliance Rebate scheme for water and energy efficient appliances will continue to run by Sustainability Victoria for clients who success-fully apply for a NILS loan or who use the Good Shepherd Buying Service to purchase eligible prod-ucts. $100 is deducted by the NILS provider from the repayable NILS loan. A washing machine with a minimum

• 3.5 star energy rating and (4 star in the old system)

• A fridge with a minimum 2.5 star energy rating (4 star in the old system)

The Annual Electricity Concession works to assist low income households receive a year-round saving of 17.5% on their electricity bill. This announcement came in conjunction with the news that the Home Wise: Appliance and Infrastructure Grant will cease to operate. The grant, which offered assistance for the repair or replacement of essential water, gas, LPG or electrical appliances, was well utilised by low income households and may lead to an increase in the application of NILS loans for such items.

WELCOME NEW NILS PROGRAMS

CENTRECORP FOUNDATION NILS

Centrecorp Foundation NILS is a specialist indigenous program for people of Central Australia. The head office is located in Alice Springs, the maximum loan limit is $2000 and the area covered includes Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and other communities in central Australia. Postcodes: 0852, 0860, 0861, 0862, 0870, 0871, 0872.

Contact: Centrecorp Foundation NILS

75 Hartley Street

Alice Springs NT 0870

Tel: 08 8953 0853

SOUTH AUSTRALIA,

TASMANIA, W.A. AND A.C.T. No new programs. Reports on these states will appear in following issues.

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Volume 1, Issue 1

FaHCSIA Grants Financial Reporting

With the exception of those programs that

only received a FaHCSIA One-Off Grant of

no more than $5,500, there is a financial

reporting requirement for the year ending

30 June 2011 for FaHCSIA grant recipients.

The reporting requirements are quite straight-

forward and should not present a major

obstacle to programs.

If you have have queries regarding these

reports, please contact:

Trevor Armstrong (Monday to Thursday)

(03) 9695 9619

Half Yearly Statistical Reports

A reminder to active NILS programs

that the Half Year Statistical reports

to Good Shepherd Microfinance

are due by the end of July.

Information about the reports

was sent by email in mid June,

including information about some

tools that may help to make

reporting easier.

Further information is available on

the Microfinance Portal – for details

see information in the section

regarding the portal in this

newsletter.

If you need further information,

please contact:

Paul Handley (Monday to Thursday)

(03) 9495 9613

p.handley@goodshepvic.org.au

New Centrepay Contacts PLEASE NOTE the following new contacts for Centrepay Confirmation and Deduction Services. We were alerted to the changes recently and Centrepay informs us that there will be further changes in the future. Currently the details are as per the following table but you may want to contact Centrepay for any further changes. This and further information can be found under ‘Information & Resources’ on the Microfinance Portal.

The Centrepay Confirmation Help Desk number is 1800 887 774.

State Account Managers

Telephone Email

NSW & ACT 02 9448 3993 Deduction.and.Confirmation.Services.NSW@centrelink.gov.au

NT & Kimberley region 08 8936 3170 IM.Org.Merchant@centrelink.gov.au

Queensland 07 3210 8049 QLD.Deduction.Confirmation.Services.@centrelink.gov.au

South Australia 08 8306 1655 SA.Deduction.Conformation.Services@centrelink.gov.au

Victoria & Tasmania 03 9241 0828 Deduction.and.Confirmation.Services.VIC@centrelink.gov.au

WA 08 9238 9004 Business.Services.WA@centrelink.gov.au

Contributions:

Please send any information or contributions for the next National NILS E-Bulletins to me,

Amy Liddy at Good Shepherd, by 9th September, 2022. My direct number is

03 9495 9621 and email contact: a.liddy@goodshepvic.org.au

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