It is estimated that more than 105,000 people in Australia are technically homeless on any given night. And Australia is supposedly the lucky country.
There are two conventional routes when trying to address social problems:The Big Issue is an Australian leading social enterprise. An independent not-for-profit organization delivering developed solutions to help homeless, disadvantaged and marginalized people positively change their lives.
You can either lobby governments to take greater care of the disadvantaged or donate money to charities and rely on them to catch the people who fall through the cracks. The Big Issue was set up with an entirely different philosophy. At it's core is the concept that business people can use their expertise to help the wider community, and that everybody has the right to a job and to feel valued in their work.
This is the essence of The Big Issue a true social enterprise that provides otherwise socially excluded people with a way of earning a livelihood - and, in doing so, empowers them.
Graeme Wise, founder and former chairman of The Big Issue
The Big Issue Magazine is published fortnightly and sold on the streets by vendors who purchase copies for $3.50 and sell them for $7, keeping the difference. Subscriptions are also available and provide employment for disadvantaged women as dispatch assistants.
Meanwhile, over the past decade, The magazine has published cover stories and continues to highlight issues around the theme "The Great Divide" - the growing gulf between rich and poor.
The Big Issue Classroom, since 2009, has had approximately 80,000 students participated in discussions with homeless.
The Big Idea is a program where students learn through lectures, workshops and webinars about Australian social enterprise then compete to create the best social idea and business plan. In times, these ideas might be the next big thing. See thebigidea.org.au
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The Big Issue
Steven Persson, Chief Executive Officer
GPO Box 4911, Melbourne Vic 3001
Vendor Support Team (Vic & Tas): Gemma Pidutti Tel 9663 4733
Email: bigissue@bigissue.org.au
Website: thebigissue.org.au