Delivery

Online

In person

Suitable for

Primary 1–4

Primary 5–6

Secondary 7–12

The Big Issue Classroom

A one-of-a-kind, real-life insight into homelessness and poverty, told first-hand by the people who have lived it – an age-appropriate, interactive experience that stays with you.

Booked by schools across Australia since 2009

About The Big Issue Classroom

A real-life insight from the people who lived it

Since 2009, The Big Issue Classroom has given students a first-hand understanding of homelessness and poverty.

Students hear directly from people with lived experience of disadvantage and take part in activities that challenge stereotypes and build understanding of the barriers people can face. Every workshop provides income for a speaker who has experienced homelessness and hardship.

Every workshop

What to expect

What will students take away

Every workshop is designed to open young – and not-so young – minds.

The Big Issue workshops offer unique insight into a reality that as many as 3.7 million Australians are currently living below the poverty line*.

Students and teachers alike report that the workshops help build**:

*Poverty in Australia 2025 – The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
** Based on past participant testimonials

Workshop snapshot

At a glance

Duration

60 minutes

Group size

Maximum 30 students*

Where

Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra — or online

Booking times

Flexible dates, multiple sessions at once

Content

Tailored to the student age group, specialised topics available

Standard price

$425 + GST per workshop

Addons

Add-Ons Available

*See FAQs or Contact us about options for larger groups

We reply within three school days.

Don’t just take our word for it – here’s what others are saying

Hear from a teacher

This is one of the most memorable parts of our city escape for the students, they always leave with a different perspective that stays with them.

Sue, Year 9 coordinator

Sue has been attending The Big Issue Classroom with students for 5+ years

Hear from a student

I still remember The Big Issue workshop all these years later. I was really surprised by the session, I really opened my eyes to how things outside of our control can really change someone’s life. We need to be more understanding as a community.

Nicola, Vic

Nicola still remembers The Big Issue Classroom from way back in 2014

Hear from a lived-experience guest speaker

Speaking with the kids is really fulfilling for me, knowing I might be speaking to a student that is going through things I did before I became homeless and hopefully help them feel seen and maybe reach out for help.

Shane, Vic

Shane has been a guest speaker for nine years

Hear from The Big Issue staff

We developed these workshops over 18 years ago, when teachers increasingly were asking to come hear from our vendors. Over time we've developed the new workshops to make sure we're catering to all age groups who want to hear from us, and we're expanding the work opportunities available. We think all students benefit from hearing the stories, whether they're breaking down stereotypes, or relating personally to the speakers' experiences.

Danya, Vic

Danya has been with The Big Issue Classroom for 18 years

Workshop topics

Workshop topics to choose from

We can accommodate a maximum of 30 students per workshop— multiple workshops can be booked for the same school to accommodate large groups. We can be flexible, let us know your groups requirements in the comments of your enquiry form.

Most booked

Homelessness

What homelessness actually looks like in Australia, and the stereotypes worth pulling apart — told through a first-hand account.

Online or In-person

new topic

Disability

How disability intersects with disadvantage, access and work, with hands-on activities and a lived-experience speaker.

Online or In-person

Special topic

Economics and Business

A Case for Social Enterprise: how a magazine sold on the streets has led to creating work rather than charity. Suitable for senior business and economics students.

Online or In-person

Junior suitable

Josh’s Story

An age-appropriate introduction to empathy, community and the people we walk past every day. This session does not have a guest speaker.

Online or In-person

Prices

$425

+ GST per workshop

Grade 5–6 Primary and Secondary workshops

Includes a lived-experience guest speaker.

$340

+ GST per workshop

Grade 1–4 primary workshop

Josh’s Story — no guest speaker.

$340

+ GST per workshop

Online eClassroom

Live and facilitated, anywhere in Australia.

School groups receive a 10% discount when booking three or more workshops.

Optional add-on

Big City Search

For a practical follow-up to The Big Issue workshops consider adding The Big City Search, a scavenger-hunt style activity designed by The Big Issue.

This self-led activity gives students instructions and clues for a problem-solving challenge which is completed in groups. As they move around the city, they explore issues relating to homelessness such as access to transport, services, healthcare and income. This hands-on experience builds on the content from the workshop by providing an insight into some of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

The pack includes;

Teacher pack with instructions, answers and tips
Student packs (generally groups of 4-5 kids) with the scavengery hunt information
It takes around 1 hour

Please note: This activity is self-led and can be slotted into your schedule with ease. We recommend doing The Big City search after

$260 + GST

Per Group of 30 students

Add to any in-person booking

Delivery style and locations

Held at our offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra

Everywhere else in Australia, we run the same workshop online via a user-friendly video platform. Bookings are flexible to fit your school’s itinerary.

Melbourne
The Big Issue office, Melbourne CBD
Basement level, 227 Collins Street, Melbourne

Getting there

Close to trams and Flinders Street and Town Hall stations. No on-site parking available.

Workshop times

8am – 5pm, weekdays

Contact

Enquire today

Sydney
The Big Issue office, Sydney CBD
476 Pitt St, Haymarket, Sydney

Getting there

The office is part of the Central station building. No on-site parking available.

Workshop times

8am – 5pm, weekdays

Contact

Enquire today

Canberra
Various Partner Locations, Canberra

Location

We can come to you, or make use of one of our partner locations all centrally located in the CBD

Workshop times

8am – 5pm, weekdays
6pm onwards + $40 evening surcharge

Contact

Enquire today

Everywhere else — online

The same live, facilitated workshop - delivered online.

Shane sold The Big Issue magazine for nine years and now speaks in classrooms across Melbourne.

Meet our lived-experience speakers

Every workshop you book creates a shift of work

Our speakers are people who have experienced homelessness or disadvantage and are paid for every session they deliver. They are trained, supported, and speak from their own lives — which is exactly why students remember it.

Clem - NSW lived-experience speaker

"I enjoy doing the classrooms, all the kids are great and they ask some good questions. It's good for them to hear directly from us about the places they have seen and even visited, we have the first-hand experience of what it's like."

Julie - NSW lived-experience speaker

"I found the students started off a bit shy, but I think I'm approachable and I was willing to open up and relate to them. I think everyone enjoys the experience and learns from it too."

Helen - Vic lived-experience speaker

"The Big Issue is great because it shows that we're more than people without a home, we're multi-skilled and talented and we do have abilities. We come in here thinking that we don't have a lot to offer, but we come away with this belief that I can do a lot more than I think I can."

HEAR FROM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

I first came as a student and couldn’t wait to bring my students along to The Big Issue

Lucie

TBC

We were so appreciative of the shared lived experience that students were able to learn from.

Liesl - Teacher

Strathcona Secondary College, VIC | 2026

We love attending The Big Issue in person to experience the stories of real people. The organic awareness around the lives of our beautiful humans is brought out by the story of the individual presenters, Great to see how The Big Issue operates to service and help those in need.

Kitty - Teacher

St Francis de Sales Regional College NSW | 2026

We should always look at people with compassion, kindness and never judgement because we never really know what someone is going through.

Year 11 Student

St Columba's College, VIC | 2025

Phil shared his personal experience of homelessness, which gave us a real and raw insight into how easily someone can be pushed to the margins of society and how difficult it can be to find a way back. It was a talk that left a lasting impression on all of us.

Keira - Year 11 Student

Parade College, VIC | 2026

I went to The Big Issue Classroom way back in 2014 on my city camp and I still remember the experience to this day. It was really different hearing directly from somebody who has been homeless - and that they were once exactly like us - a student at high school.

Nicola - Year 9 Student

Brighton Secondary College, VIC | 2014

The learning experience gave students not only a deeper academic understanding, but a more personal connection to the realities behind the curriculum for the HSC Year 12 Community and Family Studies (CAFS).

Year 12 Community and Family Studies (CAFS) Class

Calrossy NSW | 2025

It was a powerful reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and how important compassion and awareness are for those doing it tough in our wider community.

Year 11 Urban Challenge

Avondale School NSW | 2026

Through a range of activities [on our Year 8 City Cite], I received many valuable insights, but the most impactful moment was in the Big Issue classroom.

Angela, Year 8 Student

Sacré Cœur Vic | 2025

Curriculum alignment

Maps to what you're already teaching

Every workshop is written against the Australian Curriculum v9 and state curricula. We’ll send the full alignment document with your quote.

Learning areas

General capabilities

Cross-curriculum priorities

State curricula

The impact of your booking

A lesson for your students. Paid work for our speakers.

FAQ

Answers before you ask

Still stuck? Fill in the enquiry form below and we will do our best to accommodate your group and answer your questions.

Which year levels are the workshops suitable for?

Every workshop is age and curriculum relevant, led by skilled facilitators and pitched to suit the year level.

Primary 1–4: Josh’s Story (no guest speaker)
Primary 5–6: Homelessness or Disability, with a lived-experience speaker
Secondary 7–12: All topics, including Economics and Business

What if I have a larger group than 30?

Our space in Melbourne and Sydney fits a maximum of 30 students at a time. We can often book multiple sessions across a day or days to fit multiple groups/classes in and fit into your schedule. For our Canberra workshops only, we are able to travel within the area to you and can often facilitate larger groups.

Please add any details about a larger group into your enquiry.

How much does a workshop cost?

All workshops in-person for Grade 5–6 primary and secondary students are $425 + GST per workshop.
All workshops for Grade 1–4 primary students are $340 + GST per workshop.
All online eClassroom workshops are $340 + GST per workshop.
Additional optional add-ons are available for all in-person workshop bookings.

School groups receive 10% off when booking three or more workshops.

Can you travel to us for the workshop?

If our locations do not suit your requirements, or we have no suitable availability we may be able to go to CBD based locations in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra organised by your school. In Canberra, we can also come to you at your school.

Can we book a specific lived-experience speaker?

We cannot guarantee specific speakers will be available, but will try to accommodate requests.

How do we pay?

During the booking process we will confirm your school’s accounts and payment details. After the workshop, you will be issued an invoice for payment. Our invoices for payment are sent out on the 1st of each month following your workshop.

What if the time or date I want isn't listed?

Please submit an enquiry anyway! The more bookings, the more work we can offer our lived-experience speakers! So we will try our best to accommodate and will discuss the possibilities.

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask that any cancellations be done as far in advance as possible so we can roster our lived-experience speakers. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur a 100% cancellation fee. No-shows will incur a 100% no-show fee to cover the time of our guest speakers.

We also run workshops for tertiary and workplace groups, with the same lived-experience speakers.

Not a school?

We also run workshops for universities and workplaces

Same lived-experience speakers, reframed for higher-education and corporate groups.

Booking enquiry

Booking is easy

Complete the enquiry form and The Big Issue will get back to you within three business days to confirm availability.

STEP 01

Submit an enquiry

Provide your year level, dates and where you’d like it delivered.

STEP 02

Availability confirmed

We will get in contact via email and/or phone to confirm availability of your preferred dates.

STEP 03

Book the workshop

Lock in the date, numbers and location. We will send a confirmation email.

STEP 04

See you then!

All booked in! We will send some reminders ahead of the day with instructions on how to find us.

Booked by schools across Australia since 2009