Prospective NILS Providers

NILS Network

To visit the website of the NILS network in each state, click on the link below...

• ACT
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Accreditation Information

This section outlines the various possible structures and purposes that may guide the development and running of a NILS program.

NILS programs are established in communities as a response to the needs of that local community. Both the process of NILS development and the ultimate operational structure of individual programs reflect the community in which they are located and the organisations and groups involved in the development process. Most NILS programs are developed for local communities, although some have a specific focus on a particular group of people.

NILS programs can vary in the following ways:

Purpose

1. general NILS
2. specific purpose NILS

Operational Structure

1. independent NILS provider
2. community service organisation providing NILS program
3. NILS program auspiced by one organisation (usually a community service organisation) and provided in partnership with one or more organisations

Management Arrangements

Human Resources

NILS for different purposes

Generalist NILS

A generalist NILS provides loans to people who live on a low income and who live in a particular geographic area for a specific period of time. The time can range from 3 - 12 months. The geographic area is identified by post codes and the boundary may be determined according to local government areas (LGA). Applicants are usually required to have lived at the same address for the specified period of time. Applicants must hold a health care card or a pension card and show an ability and willingness to repay the loan.

Specific purpose NILS

A NILS program can be developed to meet the needs for a specific group of people on low incomes, e.g: a NILS program for clients of a particular agency or women experiencing domestic violence. The residential criteria may be waived in the case of a specific purpose NILS. Applicants must however be in receipt of a health care card or a pension card and show an ability and willingness to repay the loan. Sometimes generalist NILS also run a specific purpose NILS.

Operational structure – how will the NILS program work?

There are currently three main types of operational structures used for the provision of NILS. The structures you develop will depend on a variety of factors such as your capacity as an organisation or community group to attract and manage loans capital and your capability to provide infrastructure support for loans interviews, assessment and on-going loans administration. The operational structures described below show the different models available to you. As you undergo the development of a NILS program you will need to consider which options best utilise the available resources in your organisation, in the local network of services and in your community.

Independent NILS

– is an incorporated NILS organisation. The organisation provides its NILS program at single or multiple sites. It can work on its own or in partnership with other community organisations to maximise the involvement of the local community and to possibly provide the program at multiple sites. The organisation’s committee of management is the key decision making mechanism for the whole program and for the assessment of loan applications.

Example: ‘Agency A’ is an independent NILS organisation that located in a relatively small regional town. It is an incorporated organisation that delivers a NILS program from its office site. The NILS program is the only program provided. The committee of management makes the decisions about the organisation and the program. Members of the committee also act as the loans assessment committee.

Community Service Organisation

– is an incorporated organisation that has a NILS program as part of a variety of programs it delivers to the community. Such an organisation is often seen as the ‘host’ organisation for the NILS program. The program can be delivered at single or multiple sites. If there are multiple sites, each site may have its own program name. The name serves to identify the program with the geographic area and/or community. Some organisations can have a NILS specific committee of management while others rely on the internal management structure for day to day management. The administration of the NILS program can vary:

• Each site independently manages its NILS program, or
• Each site conducts interviews but policies and decisions are made centrally.

Example: ‘Agency B’ is a Community Service Organisation that provides a NILS program in 3 locations: ‘Agency B’ delivers its NILS program in three different LGAs. ‘Agency B’ provides a range of programs at each site. Each site has its own NILS program name and inquiries and loans interviews are managed at the site by paid loans workers. Loans assessments are managed centrally as is the overall administration of loan repayments. The NILS program is managed overall at the central office. The day to day management decisions are made by the NILS team within the decision making structure of the whole organisation.

Auspice Arrangement

Under this arrangement a community service or incorporated organisation becomes the legal entity for the NILS program but it is not involved in the day to day provision of the program. A community committee of management work in partnership with the Auspice organisation to deliver the NILS program. This partnership can involve one or multiple groups/community organisations/interested individuals.

Partner organisations contribute varying levels of support to the program. This can include premises for inquiries and interviews and worker/volunteer time and administrative support. The NILS program can be at single or multiple sites. Governance for the NILS program is usually provided by the non incorporated, community committee of management comprised of members drawn from the partner organisations or groups. This committee usually provides the membership of the loan assessment committee.

Got questions?

Kathy Kroes – Program Manager - Microfinance & Community:
Ph: (03) 9495 9606 or email k.kroes@goodshepvic.org.au  

Vivienne Callegari, NILS Administration Officer, who will send you the appropriate information.
Ph: (03) 9495 9615 or email v.callegari@goodshepvic.org.au

General Email: nils@goodshepvic.org.au