Whitegoods appliance rebate
Household appliances, specifically washing machines and refrigerators, account for around 12.8% of greenhouse gas emissions in a typical Victorian household and 5.1% of a households energy usage. This equates to $170 per year spent on energy used for refrigeration and clothes washing.
Sustainability Victoria is currently working with community organisations delivering programs to assist low income households in a new rebate program. This program will help low income households in Victoria to purchase high efficiency whitegoods. The programs currently participating in the rebate are the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), Progress Loans program and The Good Shepherd Buying Service.
What is the No Interest Loan Scheme?
The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS®) provides interest-free loans between $800 to $1,200, for individuals or families on low income. It's a community-based program that enables people to access fair, safe and equitable credit for the purchase of goods and services.
What is the Progress Loans program?
The Progress Loan program is a joint initiative of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and ANZ Bank to provide access to mainstream credit for low income earners. Brotherhood of St Laurence loan officers guide each client through the application process for small loans of between $500 and $3,000 to purchase essential items.What is the Good Shepherd Buying Service?
The Good Shepherd Buying Service is a free statewide telephone service that assists people on low incomes who have a concession card to purchase new essential household items such as: fridges, washing machines, furniture, and medical appliances, by negotiating discount prices with a network of traders.Eligibility criteria
This rebate is only available to concession card holders who successfully apply for a No Interest Loan, Progress Loan or use the Good Shepherd Buying Service to purchase eligible products. It is only available through the following providers in Victoria.
NILS providers
| Provider | Contact details | Area served |
|---|---|---|
| Kildonan Child and Family Services | 188 McDonalds Road, Epping Tel: (03) 8401 0100 |
Epping, Doreen, Lalor, Mernda, Thomastown, Whittlesea, Bundoora, Mill Park, South Morang, Donnybrook |
| Wellbeing Wendouree NILS | 19 Violet Gve Wendouree West Tel: (03) 5339 4056 |
City of Ballarat Shire |
| Child and Family Services Ararat NILS | 4 Banfield St Ararat 3377 Tel: 0408 549 646 |
City of Ararat Shire |
| Mornington Loans Program NILS | 320 Main St, Mornington Tel: (03) 5975 1644 |
postcodes 3930, 3931, 3933, 3934 |
| The Brotherhood of St Laurence | 24-26 High St Frankston 3199 Tel: (03) 8781 5900 |
Frankston |
| 120 Hothlyn Dr PO Box 200 Craigieburn Vic 3064 Tel: (03) 9305 5100 |
Craigieburn | |
| Mezzanine level, 145 Smith St Fitzroy 3065 Tel: (03) 9445 2401 |
Fitzroy | |
| Wimmera Uniting Care | PO Box 442 185 Baillie St Horsham 3402 Tel: (03) 5382 6789 |
Hindmarsh, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack, Buloke, Northern Grampians, Horsham Rural City Council |
| Bendigo Family & Financial Services Inc | 26-28 St Andrew's Ave Bendigo 3550 Tel: (03) 5441 5277 |
Bendigo and Loddon Mallee |
| Women's Health Grampians | 2 Drummond St South Ballarat West 3350 Tel: (03) 5322 4100 |
Central Highlands region |
| Casey North Community Information & Support Service | Suite S1006 Overland Dve Fountain Gate 3805 Tel: (03) 9705 6699 Narre Warren (03) 5996 3333 Cranbourne |
City of Casey |
| Dandenong Communinty Advisory Bureau Inc | 186 Foster St East Dandenong 3175 Tel: (03) 9791 8366 or (03) 9791 8344 |
Dandenong, Bangholme, Lyndhurst, Dandenong North, Keysborough |
| Goulburn Valley FamilyCare Inc | 19 Welsford St Shepparton 3630 Tel: (03) 5823 7000 |
Shires of Mitchell, Murrindindi, Moira and City of Greater Shepparton |
| Knox Infolink Inc | 136 Boronia Rd Boronia 3155 Tel: (03) 9761 1325 |
City of Knox, Bayswater, Boronia, Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield, Lysterfield, Rowville, Scoresby, The Basin, Wantirna, Wantirna Sth |
| Kyneton Community & Learning Centre | 34 Mollison St Kyneton 3444 Tel: (03) 5422 3433 |
Macedon Ranges Shire |
| Oasis Community Care Inc Sunraysia NILS |
Mildura 3502 Tel: (03) 5022 8507 |
Sunraysia Region including 3500, 3496, 3505, 3498, 3549 |
| Castlemaine Community House | 27 Lyttleton St Castlemaine 3450 Tel: (03) 5472 4842 |
Mt Alexander Shire |
| Kilmany Uniting Care | 126 Raymond St Sale 3850 Tel: (03) 5144 7777 |
Wellington Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Baw Baw Shire |
| Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau | 5 Osborne Ave (PO Box 312) Springvale 3171 Tel: (03) 9549 5211 |
Springvale 3171, Springvale South 3172, Noble Park 3174, Clayton South 3169 |
| Echuca Neighbourhood House | 261 High St Echuca 3564 Tel: (03) 5482 6914 |
Campaspe Shire and part of Murray Shires, as well as postcodes 3558, 3568, 3566 |
Progress loan providers
| Provider | Contact details | Area served |
|---|---|---|
| The Brotherhood of St Laurence | 24-26 High St Frankston 3199 Tel: (03) 8781 5900 |
Frankston |
| 120 Hothlyn Dr PO Box 200 Craigieburn Vic 3064 Tel: (03) 9305 5100 |
Craigieburn | |
| Mezzanine level, 145 Smith St Fitzroy 3065 Tel: (03) 9445 2401 |
Fitzroy |
The Good Shepherd Buying Service
Monday - Friday 10 am - 3 pm
Tel: (03) 9417 4666
Eligible whitegoods
The whitegoods included in this rebate are:
-
Washing machines
Save energy and water by choosing a washing machine with a minimum 3.5-star energy rating and 4-star water rating.
-
Fridges
Fridges and freezers run constantly, using the most energy of all your appliances, so it pays to choose well - choose a fridge with a minimum 4-star energy rating.
Rebate amounts
You could be eligible for the following rebate amount through a No Interest Loan or a Progress Loan - $100 rebate on the purchase of either:
- a washing machine with a minimum 3.5-star energy rating and 4-star water rating
- a fridge with a minimum 4-star energy rating.
Note: the $100 rebate is deducted by the NILS or Progress Loan provider from the re-payable No Interest Loan or Progress Loan amount.
How apply for the rebate
To find out how to apply for the rebate, please contact one of the participating NILS or Progress Loan providers (listed in the eligibility criteria) or contact your local NILS provider for more information.More information
Information and contact details for the NILS program and Buying Service can be found on the Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services website, see the link at the bottom of the page.
Information and contact details for the Progress Loan program can be found on The Brotherhood of St Laurence website, see the link at the bottom of the page.
Visit the Energy Rating website to search for and compare different washing machines and fridges, see the link at the bottom of the page.
