Volunteering

Volunteering with The Big Issue

As valued partners of The Big Issue, volunteering gives you a chance to make a direct impact in the community, support individuals in need, and help run a variety of essential programs that foster long-term change. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting our mission by assisting with events, providing vendor support, and helping with logistical tasks that make the programs run smoothly.

How to Volunteer

Find upcoming volunteering opportunities in your state below via the links. Once you make your selection, you will be taken to a registration page where you will find available dates. When registration is complete, a calendar invite will be sent to your nominated email address. We recommend for groups or teams wanting to volunteer together that each person register separately, however please note there are limited spaces available for each date. For larger groups or teams wanting to volunteer together, please contact volunteering@bigissue.org.au.

We offer various volunteering opportunities to The Big Issue partners.

New Edition Breakfast

To launch the new edition of the fortnightly magazine, we run a breakfast where the vendors are invited to come along and hear what’s in the edition before it goes on sale. This is an opportunity to check in with fellow vendors, The Big Issue staff and have a meal.

Community Street Soccer Program

Join the local Street Soccer program for a few hours and experience the power of sport. Each session gives participants an opportunity to get active, make new friends and seek support in a fun and safe environment. There is no need to have any experience playing soccer, our program caters to all fitness levels and abilities.

Current opportunities

Victoria

Western Australia

South Australia

New South Wales

Queensland

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do the sessions last?

A volunteering session usually lasts approximately two hours. The magazine launch and breakfast start around 7:30am and Street Soccer usually takes place in the afternoon. For specific start and finish times, please refer to the event page.

Can I bring a friend?

Only if your friend is a work colleague! The Big Issue volunteering opportunities are only open to employees of our corporate partners. Each volunteer who attends will need to register at the event page beforehand.

What should I wear?

For the magazine launch and breakfast, please wear comfortable, casual clothing and closed-toed shoes. We will provide all volunteers with an apron and gloves. For Street Soccer please wear comfortable active wear and shoes you will be able to run around in.

Can I take photos and share my experience on social media?

Participant privacy and safety are important to us. If you would like to take photos or share anything on social media, please ask The Big Issue staff before doing so.

What if I’m ill?

If you’re feeling unwell, let us know as soon as possible by emailing volunteering@bigissue.org.au. If it is the day of the event, please email or text the contact in the reminder email you received.

My team of eight want to attend a volunteering session together, is this possible?

While our magazine launch has limited spots, occasionally our Street Soccer sessions can accommodate larger groups. Please reach out to volunteering@bigissue.org.au to organise.