The Big Issue

The Big Issue magazine is a fortnightly, independent magazine that's sold on the streets by homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people.

Vendors buy copies of the magazine for $4.50 and sell them for $9, keeping the difference. Since its inception in Australia in 1996, more than 11 million magazines have been sold, putting $29 million into the pockets of disadvantaged Australians.

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 from vendors. We also sell subscriptions, providing jobs for homeless and disadvantaged women through our Women's Subscription Enterprise.

Really want to know the facts about The Big Issue and our vendors? Check out our mythbusting page to sort the facts from the fictions.