Ibrar Hussain arrived in Australia from Pakistan in 2012 and has opened a grocery store.
With no credit history in Australia, it would be near impossible for them to get a regular loan from a bank, but a microfinance agency has stepped in.
Microfinance has been around for decades and is regularly used in developing nations to promote economic independence and reduce poverty.
A new local, not-for-profit model called Thrive has kickstarted this new breed of small business owners.
Thrive is supported by a $2 million loan from Westpac and some prominent Australian corporate leaders, including Westpac's former deputy chair John Curtis and investment banker and philanthropist Simon Mordant.
Read more at :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-12/microfinance-helping-refugees-fund-their-start-up-dreams/8601318