Home loans for essential workers

A home loan that counts every shift.

Essential workers are subject to different home lending criteria by Australia's banks. Find the lender that counts all of your overtime, penalty rates and shift allowances as income — in full.

Check eligibility

Two-minute check · no credit enquiry · no fee to apply

Your home

Doctors

Nurses

Teachers

Dentists

Police

Firefighters

Veterinarians

Medical Professionals

Essential workers include

NursesDoctorsParamedicsDentistsFirefightersMidwivesPolicemenVeterinariansPolicewomenPrimary School TeachersProtective Services OfficersSecondary School TeachersMedical ProfessionalsHealth Professionals

Who qualifies

Four groups of essential workers.

If your job requires you to either

maintain public health
maintain public safety
maintain public welfare, or
perform tasks that are core to the functioning of society

then you qualify as an essential worker.

Medical

Medical professionals

Registered nurses and midwives, general practitioners, specialists, dentists, pharmacists.

Emergency

Emergency services

Paramedics, ambulance officers, firefighters, emergency responders, State Emergency Service and rescue crew.

Protective

Protective services

Police officers, correctional officers, protective services officers, sworn investigators.

Education

Teachers

Primary and secondary teachers, special education teachers, school principals and deputies.

The nuts and bolts of it all

The info that lenders don't tell you.

Lenders have specific policies that are only beneficial and only available to essential workers.

If you don't have a 20% deposit

Workers outside these groups who do not have a 20% deposit to purchase a home are typically charged lender's mortgage insurance (LMI) — resulting in thousands of dollars in additional fees.Essential workers can borrow with less than a 20% deposit and avoid paying LMI.

Flexible income assessment

Whether you're purchasing a home or refinancing an existing home loan.Workers outside these groups can only count a maximum of 80 cents of every overtime or shift allowance dollar earned as additional income.Essential workers can claim 100% of all overtime and shift allowances as income.

Salary sacrifices

Any voluntary salary sacrifice made as an essential worker can count towards a more favourable income assessment.

Non essential workerEssential worker

Minimum deposit20%10%

Mortgage insurance to 90% LVR$27,140$0 · waived

Overtime and penalty rates counted80%100%

Shift allowances counted80%100%

Application fee$695$0

Ongoing account fee$395 per year$0

Variable rate6.09% p.a.6.05% p.a.

Discharge fee if you refinance away$350$350

Non essential worker column is the median of the four largest lenders, July 2026. Application and ongoing fees can vary by lender. Essential worker policies can vary by lender and are subject to change. Rates are variable and can rise. Break costs apply to fixed-rate splits. Your broker will discuss lender essential worker policies to determine which lender is right for you.

The dollars and the sense

Non essential vs essential.

It makes perfect sense that lenders look after Australia's essential workers, doesn't it?

For employers

Housing is a retention line item.

Hospitals, education facilities, ambulance services and police associations can list Essential Worker Finance as an employee benefit.

More info

We reply within one business day.

ZeroEffort required from your organisation

+0Verified essential workers in AustraliaData from www.jobandskills.gov.au as at March 2026

2 daysMedian time from payslips to a borrowing figure for employees

$0Cost to the employer, now and later

How it works

Three simple steps.

01 · Two minutes

Confirm your role & book a chat

Because chatting outside of standard business hours is absolutely essential & acceptable.

02 · Two business days

Get a borrowing figure

Tell us what you're wanting to do, send in some payslips and give us two days to come back to you.

03 · Settlement

We're with you all the way

From application lodgement to settlement, we're with you all the way.

Find out more.

Obligation free.

Book a chat