The Big Issue Magazine | Australian Social Enterprise

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

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 14 million magazines have been sold, putting $40.1 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 print from a vendor, or by subscription which provides employment for women experiencing disadvantage through our Women’s Workforce.

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 on the Contact Us page 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.

Submit your feedback

Meet The
Vendors

Julie

I had about a 15-year hiatus from The Big Issue. I started out in Melbourne in about 2000. I was living in a boarding house and visiting the Sacred Heart in St Kilda every day. They said they had a couple of reps coming out from The Big Issue, and I started from there. My pitch was St Kilda, outside Luna Park…My new pitch is at Museum Station. It’s all about starting up that pitch and building the clientele up again.

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Robert

The money I make selling The Big Issue comes in very handy. It helps me buy books and pay my bills…I love selling The Big Issue. I think I’m pretty good at it. If you want to stop by for a chat – you can’t miss me. Just look for the brightest person in the city.

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Cheryl

People think that Big Issue vendors are all homeless or that it’s a religious or a political magazine – well, it’s not. The Big Issue isn’t a business; it’s a family.

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Chantelle

I really like selling The Big Issue. I like being in the fresh air, meeting people, having conversations.

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Hadia

Working at The Big Issue has been very good for me. Everything here is good. People are friendly and kind, and the managers support us. It has given me confidence and a sense of belonging.

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Jake

What I really love is the connection I feel with my customers. This is what selling The Big Issue has given me. I recently had this young person say to me, “I don’t have the money to buy the magazine, but I appreciate what you’re doing.” So that was very important to me. There’s too much fighting in the world. It’s more important to think of connection and how we can really connect with each other.

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Community and Distribution partners

Past Issues