On a 30-plus degree day in Carlingford, David is mowing lawns and cleaning out gutters. It's hot and tiring work, but for David, this is heaven. He arrived in Australia from Iran as a refugee in 2012, fleeing religious persecution, jail or worse for his Christian beliefs. David was an accountant in Iran but his qualifications aren't recognised in Australia.

The inaugural WSU Paddl Games held recently brought together a team of Western Sydney University students, academics and alumni, who worked with the Business team from EnergyAustralia to find an innovative solution to Parramatta-based Thrive Refugee Enterprise’s clients’ energy needs.

Thrive Refugee Enterprise (“Thrive”), a not for profit organisation that provides small loans and business support to refugees, will mark Refugee Week by showcasing its success stories across two events in Melbourne and Sydney called Thriving: A Showcase of Refugee Owned Businesses.

While it's easy for some in Australia to be approved for a credit card or loan, many new arrivals are met with challenges.