About Thrive

• Who funds Thrive?

  Thrive is funded by generous donations and grants given to us by private donors who believe in the Thrive vision.

• Why does Thrive only provide loans for refugees and asylum seekers?

  Due to their visa conditions and lack of credit history, many of our clients do not qualify for loans with regular banks and financial institutions in Australia.

• Is Thrive Government supported?

  Thrive is not Government supported. Thrive gets its funding from private donors who believe in the Thrive mission.

• Are you Westpac Bank?

  No, Westpac supports Thrive by providing the funds to lend. These funds will need to be paid back to Westpac.

• Do you provide relocation services/accommodation for refugees?

  No, we don’t. Thrive provides business loans to refugees and asylum seekers.

• I would like to submit my feedback to Thrive, how can I do that?

  We take your feedback very seriously and would love to hear it. Please email us at info@tre.org.au and the Thrive will get in touch with you.

• I would like to submit a complaint to Thrive, how can I do that?

  We take your complaints very seriously. Please click here to see the steps you can take to submit a formal complaint.

Applying for a refugee loan

• How can I apply for a loan?

  You can apply for a refugee loan by visiting the loan section of our website: www.tre.org.au/loans and click “Apply Now”. You can also download the EOI form by visiting the loan section of our website and either email it back to us or send it via mail.

• What do I need to apply for a loan?

  You will need to be:

  • Be over 18 years of age
  • Have a work permit
  • Fill in an EOI form
  • Fill in a refugee loan application form
  • Provide us with 2 referees
  • Provide us a copy of your visa document
  • Provide us a copy of your driver license or permit
  • If you are on a bridging visa, you need to provide us a guarantor who is prepared to guarantee your loan for the period of the loan (Maximum 3 years)

• What can I expect from the loan process?

  After you apply online (EOI) a Thrive staff member will get in touch with you within 48 working hours and setup an appointment. In the meeting, depending on your business stage and business type, a relevant explanation of the process will be delivered to you.

• Why do I need a Guarantor?

  People on bridging visas need guarantors because the client can be deported during the loan repayment period.

• Who needs a Guarantor?

  • People on Bridging visas.
  • People on Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) who have less than 18 months left on their visa.
  • People on a SHEV visa that expires in 24 months.

• Why don’t we offer personal lending?

  We don’t offer personal lending because Thrive aims to assist refugees and asylum seekers to start their own businesses and manage their entrepreneurial efforts.

• Can I get a loan to pay for my studies?

  No. Thrive Loans are for business purposes only. Thrive aims to assist refugees and asylum seekers to start their own businesses and manage their entrepreneurial efforts.

• Can I get a loan to buy a car to use privately?

  No. Thrive Loans are for business purposes only. Thrive aims to assist refugees and asylum seekers to start their own businesses and manage their entrepreneurial efforts.

• Why did my loan get declined?

  A loan for refugees may be declined for many reasons. If you have a negative credit history or are unable to find a guarantor and need one are both examples of reasons why Thrive may decline your loan. These are not the only reasons. As every business and application is different, there may be another reason why you do not meet the loan eligibility requirements. If you would like to have a conversation about reasons why your loan may have been declined, please e-mail us at info@tre.org.au.

• I live in NT, QLD, WA, TAS, SA can I apply for a loan?

  At this stage, we are only operational in Sydney, NSW and Melbourne, VIC. We do have some clients in ACT and other rural parts of VIC and NSW but they are through specific referral agencies. There are plans to expand into other states, so please keep us in mind then and stay tuned for our availability in other states.

Making a donation

• I am interested in donating Thrive! How can I donate?

  Thank you! Please visit www.tre.org.au/volunteer/#section-donate-content for more options on How to Donate. If you are interested in donating on a recurring basis, please contact us at info@tre.org.au.

Thrive’s Clients

• I’m a client, how can I get featured on your website?

  Contact us at info@tre.org.au.

• I’m a client, I’m interested in being in your testimonials/case studies/ videos. How can I do that?

  Express your interest to be featured on Thrive’s social media and video feeds at info@tre.org.au with an address to our Marketing Manager, Eymie.

Volunteering with Thrive

• How do I become a volunteer?

  Easy! Visit our volunteer section of our website: www.tre.org.au/volunteer and use our online application system to apply.