The Big Issue

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The Big Idea

Students Think Big for Final B...

Members of the winning teams at our online awards night, joined by Steven Persson, CEO, The Big Issue/Homes for Homes, Tracey Kennair, Digital Transformation Partner & Deputy Chair, PwC, and ...

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24 November 2020Category: The Big Idea

Students Think Big for Social ...

Our undergraduate and postgraduate winners Good Intentions and Closed Loop, with The Big Idea finalist judges. Credit: Mark Avellino A rental tent service for festivals providing work for out of care ...

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29 November 2019Category: The Big Idea

The Big Idea Winners Announced

The University of New South Wales won The Big Idea university competition in both the undergraduate and postgraduate category. Benedikta Atika Prastyamita, Febe Amelia Haryanto, Darcy Small, Brody Smith, Brianna Kerr, ...

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4 December 2018Category: The Big Idea

The Big Idea 2018 Kicks Off

The Big Issue’s national university immersion program and competition, The Big Idea, is officially underway for 2018.   University students across Australia will take part in the semester-long course and put ...

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12 June 2018Category: The Big Idea

Brisbane Broncos take out the ...

The Brisbane Broncos have been crowned the champions of The Big Issue’s annual Sporting Sales Challenge. In December last year players Sam Thaiday and Jaydn Su'A hit the streets of Brisbane’s ...

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20 February 2018Category: The Big Idea

Cameron's act of Valentine's k...

This Valentine's Day, Gold Coast vendor Cameron (pictured above) was at the heart of one of the most talked about love stories. It began with Cameron's chance encounter with Lance Smith ...

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16 February 2018Category: The Big Idea

Announcing the winners of The ...

An accessories label that employs refugee women, a business that uses 3D printing to create custom wheelchair tables and an initiative to preserve Indigenous culture have just been announced as ...

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5 December 2017Category: The Big Idea

Meet The Big Idea finalists fo...

The finals of The Big Idea competition for 2017 are taking place very soon. Nine finalist teams will pitch their social enterprise ideas to the high-profile panel of judges tasked ...

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4 December 2017Category: The Big Idea

What will be 2017's Big Idea?

More than 550 university students have entered their social enterprise plans in The Big Issue’s 2017 Big Idea competition in the lead up to finals in December. Teams from 13 universities ...

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21 November 2017Category: The Big Idea

The Big Idea 2016 Winners Anno...

The winners of The Big Issue's national university competition, The Big Idea, were announced at an awards event in Melbourne last night.  A social business idea from the University of Sydney ...

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30 November 2016Category: The Big Idea

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Vendor profile

Fred

I was four when I moved to Adelaide. I was born in Peterborough – my home town ... Find out more

Wayne

I was born in Narrogin, WA, as the third youngest of eight children. My family moved ... Find out more

David

I grew up in Melbourne but we moved to Warrnambool when I was a teenager. I got a job... Find out more

Nathan

I have been selling The Big Issue since two Septembers ago, so two years now. It&rsqu... Find out more

Grace

I started selling The Big Issue at the start of the year, and I’m really enjoyi... Find out more

Chris

I was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. I lived there until I was about 10. Dad was a tr... Find out more

Chris

I am most known for my sense of humour. It is pretty deadly! I love to laugh, and I l... Find out more

Cassie

I’m Brisbane born and bred. School was a bit hard for me because I was in the s... Find out more

Scott

I grew up in the Byron Bay area. Did I enjoy school? Yes and no. Things turned around... Find out more

Peter

I was born and bred in Sydney near Paddington but moved around a fair bit with my par... Find out more

Jason

I was born on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and grew up on a farm that Mum a... Find out more

Raylene

I love a chat, and could happily tell my life story to a stranger. I love a bit of fu... Find out more

Lenny

I’m totally missing going out, doing The Big Issue. It’s definitely chall... Find out more

Genice

I didn’t find out about The Big Issue until I met Peter, who also sells the mag... Find out more

Rachel

The cycle of homelessness is real. I used to call myself a clever homeless person, be... Find out more

Vesna

Craig and I work at the markets and sell The Big Issue together. I like talking to pe... Find out more

Jeromy

I was born and raised in Tamworth, New South Wales, the country music capital of Aust... Find out more

Jack

I come from a family of 10. As a child we moved around the country a bit and settled ... Find out more

Craig

I went to school in Bendigo. I can’t remember much about it; it was too long ag... Find out more

Lou

I was born in Melbourne, put into care when I was 18 months old and bounced from home... Find out more

Robert

School was hard for me. I grew up around violence and alcoholism, and was bullied at ... Find out more

Ibrahim

I was born in Port Hedland Hospital in 1990, the only boy with four sisters. It was a... Find out more

Eddie

I was born in Brisbane, and moved to Adelaide when I was a little kid. We moved back ... Find out more

George

I was born in Egypt and came here in 1952. My great-great grandfather was Maltese and... Find out more

Luke

I’m 35 years old now and I’ve had quite an interesting life, with lots of... Find out more

Ronnie

I was born in London. I’ve got a brother and a sister but I came to Australia b... Find out more

Louis

I was born in New York City, in Harlem, and grew up in the Bronx. This was the end of... Find out more

Bradley

I’m 51 now, that’s not too bad. I have always lived in Sydney. I was livi... Find out more

Andrew

I’m born and bred in Newcastle, a stick in the mud. I was educated here at the ... Find out more

Brian

I was born in Townsville, in Queensland, in 1967. It was pretty rough. I got into lot... Find out more

Jarran

For the first time in a long time I am on the up and up, and I am feeling pretty good... Find out more

Mikhael

I was born in Ukraine. I lived in a small town about 500km from Kiev, close to the ci... Find out more

Brett

I am Brisbane born and bred. My dad left when I was six months old, and Mum brought u... Find out more

Cyril

When I was born, the doctor came out and told my parents: “Mr and Mrs W, your s... Find out more

David

I was born in Ipoh, Malaysia in 1983. I was the first blind person in the family, so ... Find out more

Keira

I found out about The Big Issue through my studies at school and I thought it sounded... Find out more

Donna

If you were to ask a friend to describe me, they would probably say I’m loud, o... Find out more

Peter

Before I was married, I was in Sydney and fell on hard times. I had come over from Ne... Find out more

William

I’m from Woy Woy on the Central Coast of New South Wales. I grew up and lived t... Find out more

Teresa

I’m originally from a little town called Buffalo in South Gippsland. It’s... Find out more

Margaret

I grew up in Geelong with my family, and when I was about 18 I moved to Melbourne. I ... Find out more

Joe

I’ve been with The Big Issue for 20 years and it’s one of the best things... Find out more

Aaron

I grew up in Mount Gambier. I have an older brother, but we’re no longer in con... Find out more

Jackie

I grew up in England with my dad and step-mum. My mum took off when I was a baby and ... Find out more

Rodney

I am Queensland-born and bred. I am the youngest of six kids. Dad passed away when Mu... Find out more

Claire

Claire sells The Big Issue in Perth. I’ve been told I have a memorable smil... Find out more

David

David sells The Big Issue in Melbourne. I was born in Mildura, and I was seven ye... Find out more

Les

MEET YOUR VENDOR Les sells The Big Issue in Brisbane. I was adopted from the ... Find out more

Trevor

MEET YOUR VENDOR Trevor sells The Big Issue in Sydney. I didn’t ge... Find out more

Wayne

Wayne sells The Big Issue in Adelaide. I really like Adelaide. I was born in Flin... Find out more

Gill

MEET YOUR VENDOR Gill sells The Big Issue in Murray St Mall, Perth Life has n... Find out more

Tina

MEET YOUR VENDOR Tina sells The Big Issue in Perth One of the best things I r... Find out more

Michael

Michael sells The Big Issue in Brisbane. I was born in Germany, and came to Austr... Find out more

Michael

Michael sells The Big Issue in Melbourne CBD. I was born in NSW. King George V Me... Find out more

Barry

Meet Barry. He sells The Big Issue at Broadway, Sydney. I’m from Victor... Find out more

Murray

This is Murray.  He sells The Big Issue at various locations around Canberra... Find out more

Cameron

Meet Cameron.  He sells The Big Issue on the corner of Gold Coast Hwy and La... Find out more

Willy

Willy sells The Big Issue in Geelong. I was born in Adelaide. There&rsq... Find out more

John,

John sells The Big Issue in Sandgate, Brisbane. I came to Australia from the UK w... Find out more

Susie

Susie works for WSE in Perth. I’ve had some tough times over the years, but... Find out more

Bob

Bob C sells The Big Issue at Kings Cross Markets and Circular Quay, Sydney. I was... Find out more

Rhys

Rhys sells The Big Issue in Rundle Mall, Adelaide. I have been a vendor for aroun... Find out more

Charlie

Charlie sells The Big Issue on St Georges Terrace, Perth. I was brought up in Mid... Find out more

Linda

Linda sells The Big Issue at the Bridge Mall in Ballarat, Victoria. I’ve li... Find out more

Doug,

Doug sells the big issue at Ainslie, Canberra. I have been involved with The Big ... Find out more

Tukuf

Tukuf sells The Big Issue at various locations in the Melbourne CBD. I left ... Find out more

AnneMarie

AnneMarie works at the Downing Centre near Museum Station, Sydney. I started at T... Find out more

Deejay

Meet Deejay. He sells The Big Issue in Toowong Shopping Centre, Southbank Station... Find out more

Nick

Nick sells The Big Issue in Lygon Court and outside Readings bookshop, Carlton, Melbo... Find out more

David

David S sells The Big Issue in Parramatta, Rhodes and Burwood, Sydney. I started ... Find out more

Ron

Ron sells The Big Issue at NAB, Pirie St, and Bupa Dental, Grenfell St, in Adelaide. ... Find out more

Kevin

Kevin sells The Big Issue at Claremont Quarter, The Arts Bridge and Royal Perth Hospi... Find out more

David

David sells The Big Issue in the Brisbane CBD.  I’ve been selling The ... Find out more

Luceil

I’m from Mildura in Victoria. I came to Canberra when I was around four, as my ... Find out more

Ben

I've been a musician all my life, and it’s one of my greatest inspirations.... Find out more

Gamal

I’m Egyptian. I grew up in a big family in Cairo – five brothers and one ... Find out more

Lionel

I’ve been in Redfern my whole life. I grew up in shorts, no shirt, a “wal... Find out more

Scott,

I grew up in the Byron Bay region, along the northern NSW coast. I ended up in Sydney... Find out more

Sean

I got bullied at primary school because I have an unusual birth mark on my head. I fe... Find out more

Ryan

Things have not always been easy for me, but I have always kept my sense of humour an... Find out more

Kevin

I was born in the UK, and we came to Australia when I was about six years old. We cam... Find out more

Melissa

I started working at The Big Issue two years ago. My first WSE shift was actually on ... Find out more

Andrew

"I grew up in Manchester. I had a very happy childhood, I was an only child with... Find out more

Garry

I grew up with my nan, basically. She raised me. I had a rough time at school, with m... Find out more

Mark

Mark L sells at James and Connor Sts, Burleigh Heads. I’m the luckiest vend... Find out more

Brad

I think it’s fair to say I’ve never had much luck in my life. I migh... Find out more

Erik

I’m originally from Alice, born and raised. I’ve got good memories of goi... Find out more

Grant,

I started selling The Big Issue nine-and-a-half years ago when I was 21 years of age.... Find out more

Shane

I’m not sure how many vendors have sold The Big Issue in all of the major citie... Find out more

Glenn

I enjoy my job selling The Big Issue. I’ve been doing it a long time now, about... Find out more

Luke

I have always lived in Adelaide, north of the city. I grew up near Arndale and now li... Find out more

Allan

I’m Wiradjuri born. I was born in Fitzroy, in Wiradjuri country. My mother was ... Find out more

Dom,

I was born and raised in the north of Italy, and moved to Australia in 1980 when I wa... Find out more

Ricky

This is my third year selling The Big Issue. I was staying at Unity Housing in the CB... Find out more

Kellee

I’m a WA girl and have never lived anywhere else. I was born in Perth and moved... Find out more

Jacob

I’m not really a straight-cut potato, I have a couple of curves to me. I also h... Find out more

Magoo,

My name’s Magoo and I used to live under a bridge. Now I live under a BBQ. ... Find out more

Chris,

Being born and raised in Perth, I am naturally a diehard WAFL fan and have follo... Find out more

Shane,

I lived in West Footscray till my folks decided to move here in 1990, bit of a c... Find out more

Fay,

I grew up in Wentworthville, near Parramatta. My parents had a business and it w... Find out more

Steve,

I GREW UP in Newcastle and spent a couple of years living on the streets, which ... Find out more

Dennis,

I GREW UP here in Canberra, but I’ve lived in Yass for eight years — me, ... Find out more

Michael

I had a loving caring family, and was raised well with good values. I grew up just ou... Find out more

Bluey

TWO YEARS AGO, when I was about 60, rather than die fromdrug abuse I decided it would... Find out more

Nathan

"I’ll start this the way I start every conversation – with a ‘... Find out more

Kim

I was born in Hobart and moved to Melbourne when I was six years old, with my three b... Find out more

Simon

“My parents were from the UK, but I was born and grew up in Whyalla (SA). Dad w... Find out more

Steve

"G’day, I’m Steve. Nice to meet you! I’m 40 – have lived... Find out more

Malcolm

I grew up in Perth in Middle Swan, but I don’t remember much of it. Just a norm... Find out more

Greg

I guess I was three or four when my grandparents died and I was sent to Tufnell Home ... Find out more

Tim

I am 27. My dad died of cirrhosis of the liver when I was five and I was taken off my... Find out more

Bevan

I have lived on farms most of my life but I was actually born in Perth. Dad had the f... Find out more

Rikki

I was born with spina bifida and spent my first year of life in Princess Margaret Hos... Find out more

Jeff

I was born in Seddon Private Hospital in Tongue Street, Yarraville. It’s now a ... Find out more

Ronnie

I’m a traveller. I seek knowledge and wisdom from new places – Asia, Russ... Find out more

Paul

Me, my twin brother and my young sister came out from England in 1963 with my father.... Find out more

Garfield

I was born in Saigon [now Ho Chi Minh City] and came to Australia in 1975, on a plane... Find out more

Greg

My family background is Irish, but I was born in Melbourne in 1969. I lost my mum whe... Find out more

Doug

“Our family was a pretty mixed bag. I’m one of six, but my father was a v... Find out more

Tanya

I was born and raised in Geelong, and underwent heart surgery at three months old &nd... Find out more

John

"I don’t really have any ambitions – maybe that’s a problem! I... Find out more

Jock

"I never knew my mum and dad. I was put into an orphanage at birth and never rea... Find out more

Julie

“I love people. They know me so well. I’ve been out in public collecting ... Find out more

Ricky

  "I lived in Port Pirie [South Australia] most of my life. It was a pr... Find out more

Jeffrey

  "I was born in the Philippines, in Manila. I came to Australia in 200... Find out more

Grant

“I was born in Coffs Harbour [NSW]. I don’t look like I have a disability... Find out more

Rob

"Mum and Dad split up when I was three, but it was when I was four that my life ... Find out more

Trevor

“I was born in Ballarat, Victoria, but my parents separated and my brother, sis... Find out more

Alfred

Even against the backdrop of Brisbane’s vibrant West End, Alfred cuts a colourf... Find out more

Renae

"I was born at the Queen Victoria Hospital, same place my mum was born. I mainly... Find out more

Steve

"I was born in Whyalla; a South Aussie. I never got to meet my old man, but I th... Find out more

Kylie

“I was born in Bathurst, left there when I was four because there was no school... Find out more

Sean

“I was born in Subiaco, Western Australia. I have a brother and a sister, but h... Find out more

Dennis

Recently, Dennis took out The Big Issue Brisbane’s Best Dressed Vendor Award, a... Find out more

Scott

"I’m 24, from the northern NSW coast – the Byron Bay region. I&rsquo... Find out more

Heba

"My father is Aboriginal and my mum is Egyptian. Everyone says it’s the we... Find out more

Bianca

"It’s been 10 years I’ve been selling The Big Issue in Canberra, and... Find out more

Bradley

"At first my family was up at The Entrance, NSW, near Woy Woy, and we moved down... Find out more

Stephen

In his housing commission unit in Nambour, on the Sunshine Coast, Stephen keeps three... Find out more

Frank

"I am either 52 or 53 years old, not too sure – but I look 21! I am the yo... Find out more

Paul

"I was born in Melbourne and came over to Adelaide when I was six – Dad wa... Find out more

Ashley

"I am from Subiaco in Western Australia. Went to Subiaco Primary School but left... Find out more

Andrew

TERI “I was born in Carlton but I was placed straight in a children’s hom... Find out more

Raph

Ed#359, July 2010 Brisbane’s King George Square has recently undergone a dr... Find out more

Andrew

"My parents came out here from England in 1969, when I was three. I grew up in W... Find out more

Debra

"I grew up in Melbourne, the oldest of seven, in West Heidelberg in the 1960s. I... Find out more

Stephen

"I was born in 1965, but I feel old. My life has been a battle to survive mental... Find out more

Craig

"I lived in Traralgon, Victoria, for 18 years, went to Darwin for six, been back... Find out more

David

"I grew up around Adelaide. My parents separated when I was one or two, and I li... Find out more

Peter

"I grew up in Kalgoorlie with my sister, but my childhood was not a normal one. ... Find out more

Pam

"I was born in Sri Lanka but I grew up in Canberra. Mum and Dad just wanted a ch... Find out more

Bill

From Ed#348, February 2010 As one of The Big Issue’s longest-serving v... Find out more

Janine

"I’m a happy-go-lucky person. Happy to be settled and happy to have a job.... Find out more

Stephen

"I grew up in Queensland. My mum and dad divorced when I was young and they move... Find out more

Kerry-Anne

"I’d lived here in Adelaide all my life, till I went to Melbourne in 2009 ... Find out more

Peter

"I started with The Big Issue just over a year ago. My mate Dougie and his wife ... Find out more

Eileen

Eileen is no different from many other 31-year-old women: she loves shopping for clot... Find out more

James

"With the Christmas issue (Ed#421), I celebrated my 300th Big Issue edition as a... Find out more

Arthur

"I’ve been blind since the age of 16 – I knew it would happen, as it... Find out more

Johnnie

Readers might recognise Melbourne vendor Johnnie from The Big Issue’s 2010 nati... Find out more

Gary

"When the doctors told my mum her baby probably wouldn’t walk or talk, she... Find out more

Cindy

"I was born in Tassie, but my parents split up and Mum raised me and my two brot... Find out more

Christine

It’s been more than five years since I was introduced to the The Big Issue by a... Find out more

Steve

I am from down south at Bunbury originally, but after Mum and Dad separated I went wi... Find out more

Kelvin

I was born in Geelong, Victoria, and spent most of my life there. I was born prematur... Find out more

Ernie

Since I had the car accident, I don’t remember having other jobs or much about ... Find out more

Jason

Jason sells The Big Issue on the corner of Collins and Spencer Streets, Melbourne. ... Find out more

Michael

When Michael was 21 he fled the angry shouts of his parents’ crumbling marriage... Find out more

Kayleen

I was born in Brisbane Hospital and had a happy childhood in northern Queensland, but... Find out more

Celeste

"It’s funny, when I was school I was a very high achiever: A+, did musical... Find out more

Laurence

Laurence sells The Big Issue at the Canberra Times Fountain, Civic, and in Dickson. ... Find out more
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