The Big Issue magazine is a fortnightly, independent magazine sold on the streets by people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage.
Vendors buy each
magazine for $4.50
Vendors sell the magazine
for $9.00 each
Vendors earn $4.50 per magazine, earning a meaningful income
Meet The
Vendors
Mela
I was born in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. We had a big family: my mother had eight kids. But we were a really poor family. When I was young I had a mental illness, and had a difficult life. I finished school really early, when I was 14 years old. I liked school,…
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Terri
I’ve been with the Women’s Subscription Enterprise for 10 years this year – it’s my longest job. Just through working at The Big Issue, I’m totally changed and everything’s so much better. I was in a drop-in centre, at Lou’s Place, and they asked me if I wanted a job, and I said yes. I…
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Pat
I was born in the UK in Surrey. I came to Australia when I was really little. I still love the old country – it hurts my heart that I missed out on all my cousins, my grandparents, my uncles – but I’ve been in Melbourne my whole life. I had a really happy childhood,…
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Greg
I’m a New South Wales boy who’s called Perth his home for the last 20 years. I was born in Goulburn and spent my childhood and school years there and in Yass. I’ve had a good childhood, hanging around at the pool in Yass, playing lots of rugby league, touch footy and cricket. I worked…
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Glenn
You’re not going to believe how many brothers and sisters I’ve got. I’m the youngest; I’ve got three brothers and four sisters. I was born with the cords around my throat and couldn’t sit up until I was one year old, couldn’t walk by myself until I was two. I went to West Ipswich State…
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Lionel
It’s a really good thing The Big Issue. People come and buy it and they’re all big smiles. People come up and ask how I am, where I’ve been. People read it and love it and it’s something that will give them a boost.
Learn moreCommunity and Distribution partners
Partners
- Citiplace Community Centre, City of Perth
- City of Adelaide
- City of Brisbane
- City of Melbourne
- City of Perth
- City of Sydney
- Community Northern Beaches
- Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre, Katoomba
- Mary Ryans Bookshop, New Farm
- Micah Projects, West End
- Paperbark Merchants, Albany
- Vicinity Centres
The Big Issue magazine is a fortnightly, independent magazine sold on the streets by people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage.
Vendors buy copies of the magazine for $4.50 and sell them for $9, keeping the difference and earning meaningful income. Since it began in Australia in 1996, more than 13 million magazines have been sold, putting $32 million into the pockets of Australians experiencing disadvantage.
The Big Issue is timely and topical, and loved by readers for its distinctive brand of irreverence. The magazine has something for everyone: vendors’ stories, celebrity profiles, culture, commentary and in-depth social justice investigations all feature in its pages.
The magazine is available in both a print and digital version, or by subscription which provides employment for women experiencing disadvantage through our Women’s Subscription Enterprise.
It’s as simple as make, buy sell!
The Big Issue editorial team make a quality magazine each fortnight, which is made available for vendors to buy at $4.50 per magazine.
Vendors then sell the magazine to customers for $9 each, earning a meaningful income. There is no minimum number of magazines vendors have to buy, and any unsold magazines can be exchanged or refunded.
“Sometimes people say, oh I’ll just give you a donation. A donation may help, but it’s not selling a mag. The magazine does not just happen. And we’re not all homeless. We are not out there begging. We’re working. I feel very strongly about this. I might take it too seriously, but we go out to work, we own the fact that we’re doing it.” – Melbourne vendor, David.
Want to rave about us, reprimand us, or give a shout out to your vendor? Fill out the form below to share your feedback with us. You might even be selected for our magazine’s ‘Letter of the Fortnight’!
By submitting you give permission for your name and letter to be included in our magazine. Submissions may be edited for clarity or space.
Past Issues
Let’s Go
Surfing
Kermit’s Great
Leap Forward
Welcome Back!
Your Say
You might even be selected for our magazine’s ‘Letter of the Fortnight’!