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.
Meet The
Vendors
David S
I can’t believe The Big Issue is 30. That’s half my life I’ve spent doing this; I turn 60 next year. I don’t do the magazine anymore, just The Big Issue Classroom. I would like to retire sometime in the future. But, once you’ve done The Big Issue, it’s in your system – you can’t get rid of it.
Learn more
Amanda
Even though I’ve only been with The Big Issue a few months, it feels exciting to be part of the 30th anniversary. The Big Issue has the other benefit of directly helping the people who sell it. It’s unique that way. I think people like being able to buy something that matters.
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Murray
I think The Big Issue is doing a great job and helping support homeless people, which is good. I don’t really have plans for what is next, actually – taking it day by day. You’ve just got to take every day as it comes.
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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.
Learn moreCommunity and Distribution partners
Partners
- Citiplace Community Centre, City of Perth
- City of Adelaide
- City of Brisbane
- City of Melbourne
- City of Perth
- City of Sydney
- Community Northern Beaches
- Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre, Katoomba
- Mary Ryans Bookshop, New Farm
- Micah Projects, West End
- Mills Records, Fremantle
- Paperbark Merchants, Albany
- Vicinity Centres
