Ms Kent will offer her personal insight on the Prime Minister’s take on female leadership, drawing on the interviews she conducted for the 2009 biography.

She joins keynote speaker, Carol Schwartz AM, a leading Melbourne philanthropist and businesswoman, member of the City of Melbourne Enterprise Advisory Board and Chairman of Our Community.

The Third Sector Women’s Leadership Seminar is an event for professionals interested in leadership in business, the community, and politics.With an initial focus on women, speakers will also draw more widely on their greater experience to provide insight into leadership development of relevance to all sectors. There will also be ample professional development and networking opportunities in the panel session and interactive workshop.

The program includes:

• Presentation from acclaimed biographer Jacqueline Kent, author of The Making of Julia Gillard.
• Keynote Address by Carol Schwartz AM, a leading Melbourne philanthropist and businesswoman. Ms Schwartz is Executive in Residence at the Melbourne Business School, member of the City of Melbourne Enterprise Advisory Board, director of the philanthropic Trawalla Foundation, Chairman of Our Community and Deputy Chair of the Australian Women Donors Network.
• Presenters Jo Swift CEO of Kids Undercover and Patrizia Torelli Chair of OnSide Victoria. Ms Swift will talk about organisational change and the leadership required to achieve business goals, and Ms Torelli will talk about leadership interaction amongst culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Victoria.
• Professional development and networking opportunities during the interactive panel session, workshop, and during the buffet-style lunch.
• Workshop with SACS Consulting, a human resource and organisational psychology consulting firm, on the myths and truths of leadership development.

The Seminar will be held on Wednesday 21 July, from 9.00am–4.00pm at Rydges on Swanston, Carlton, Victoria.

Registration has been discounted to $479 for all not-for-profit and community organisations. A donation of $50 from each registration will be made to the International Women’s Development Agency.

Visit www.celebratethirdsectorwomen.com.au for more information, or contact Stephanie Fielden on 03 9248 5175 or at conferences@gs-press.com.au

Register NOW to avoid missing out!

The Big Issue in Brisbane will hold its Film Night Fundraiser with the screening of Russell Crowe’s new epic, Robin Hood on Thursday May 13. It’s the fifth time Crowe and Scott have collaborated, back in 2001 they worked in propelling the blockbuster, Gladiator, to five Oscars.

This time the successful duo have teamed up with another award winning Australian actor, Cate Blanchett, to make it the first time this quintessentially English tale will be told with two Antipodeans in the lead roles.

The Big Issue invites members of the public to be the first to see Crowe play the legendary Robin of Loxely at the Barracks Cinema at 6pm on Thursday 13th May.

Tickets are $20 and include a complimentary glass of champagne or juice along with a copy of Filmink movie magazine. All money raised goes to support The Big Issue in Brisbane. To purchase a ticket call 07 3036 4420.

The Haiti Project: A Christina Simons Photographic Exhibition and Fundraiser

Opening night: Wednesday 28 April, 2010 – 6pm featuring The Big Issue Editor Alan Attwood

Where: Storm Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney.

Exhibition dates: 28 April – 22 May, 2010.

For further information download the Press Kit here.

Last year’s edition was a sell out, attracting contributions from esteemed writers such as Cate Kennedy, Debra Adelaide and Alice Pung, with two of its ten stories making the cut for Black Inc.’s Best Australian Stories 2009.

To submit to this year’s fiction edition, send two printed (not electronic) copies of your entry (of up to 3000 words) to:

Fiction Edition- The Big Issue
GPO Box 4911VV
Melbourne VIC 3001

* Please ensure your name and details are included on a removable coversheet. Closing date for entries is Thursday 20 May 2010.

For further information contact editorial@bigissue.org.au

The Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib and Senator Stephen Fielding announced Round 2 of the Government’s Get Communities Working projects under the Jobs Fund, which will see The Big Issue receive funding to establish a viable and sustainable social enterprise, providing appropriate employment, training and pathway opportunities for disadvantaged women in vulnerable situations.

“These projects will support and create jobs in communities hardest hit by unemployment and the global economic downturn, while providing much needed assistance to some of the most disadvantaged Australians,” Senator Arbib said.

“Support for social enterprises which provide training and employment opportunities to the long-term unemployed, homeless people and people with disability is one way to break the cycle of disadvantage and help people into meaningful long-term jobs.”

The Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise will initially employ 90 disadvantaged women and six professional staff through a model selling subscriptions to The Big Issue magazine, a long standing and quality product that currently reaches more than 130 000 Australians each fortnight.

Subscription sales will be achieved through professional telemarketing so there is no pressure on the women to sell and the program will be supported by The Big Issue’s existing governance, management, marketing and administration resources.

Disadvantaged women will be employed to work as Dispatch Assistants and collate, sort and insert the magazines every fortnight.

The Big Issue’s CEO Steven Persson said The Big Issue has been operating in Australia since 1996 and has successfully worked in helping thousands of homeless and disadvantaged Australians to help themselves.

“With the Street Magazine Enterprise showing remarkable outcomes over the past 14 years, predominantly for men, we recognised nearly three years ago that we needed to also establish a viable and sustainable social enterprise for women,” Mr Persson said.

“Since that time we have conducted an extensive feasibility study reviewing what work opportunities best meet needs of homeless and disadvantaged women and it brings us great pleasure to now see years of hard work come to fruition thanks to the support of the Australian Government.”

Head of the Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise for The Big Issue, Natalie Susman, said women made up 40 percent of those sleeping rough or in non-secure housing.

“The largest single cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic and family violence, which overwhelmingly affects women and children,” Ms Susman said.

“What we are doing is providing these women with safe and secure employment, training and pathway opportunities, giving them financial independence and ultimately allowing them to change their lives and have control over their futures.”

The Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise is entirely scalable – as subscriptions are sold, revenue is directed straight into the pockets of disadvantaged women, through provision of wages, training, mentoring and support.

“The enterprise is financially sustainable and totally viable after the start up phase through ongoing subscription sales,” Ms Susman concluded.

ENDS

Image 1: The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson speaks with Senator The Hon Mark Arbib, Senator Stephen Fielding and Vendor Support Manager Kirstie Papanikalaou at the announcement of the Australian Government’s $1.2 million in funding to kick start the Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise.

Image 2: Senator The Hon Mark Arbib, Minister for Employment Participation and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, makes the announcement to The Big Issue that the Australian Government will provide $1.2 million in funding to kick start the Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise.

For more images go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigissueaustralia/sets/72157623562188331/

Image credits: Saville Coble www.savillecoble.com.au

Hosted by the Macquarie Group Foundation, on behalf of The Big Issue, the luncheon of 26 guests saw a host of the city’s top business women, along with TODAY Show host Lisa Wilkinson and retired Australian Netballer and Ambassador for The Big Issue Liz Ellis, gather to find out more about The Big Issue’s Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise.

The initiative will address the issues faced by homeless and disadvantaged women in the community, by the establishment of a subscriptions model selling The Big Issue magazine.

Head of Corporate Affairs for The Big Issue, Natalie Susman, said it was an honour to have a group of well-regarded and accomplished women come together today to learn more about the introduction of this wonderful initiative.

“Every night more than 46,000 Australian women are homeless, making up 40 percent of those sleeping rough or in improvised shelters,” Ms Susman said.

“The largest single cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic and family violence, which overwhelmingly affects women and children.

“The Big Issue has recognised the need to establish a viable and sustainable social enterprise that can provide appropriate employment, training and pathway opportunities for disadvantaged women, giving them financial independence and ultimately allowing them to change their lives and have control over their futures.

“After an initial start-up period, the Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise will become entirely self-sustaining through revenue from ongoing subscription sales.

“What we need now is for everyone to champion the sale of these subscriptions through their networks and to obtain an initial capital investment to kick start the program.”

Wife of the Prime Minister, Therese Rein, expressed her support for the initiative and her enthusiasm to be involved with the luncheon for The Big Issue today.

“I am thrilled to be here to learn more about this important initiative,” Ms Rein. 

“The program aims to provide homeless women with a non-judgemental, safe and flexible work environment that can improve their financial circumstances while encouraging personal development, independence and hope for a stable future.”

TODAY Show host Lisa Wilkinson agreed with Ms Rein, throwing her full support behind the establishment of a sustainable initiative that will provide disadvantaged women with ongoing work and training opportunities with financial return.

“I have always thought The Big Issue was a wonderful concept, allowing Australia’s disadvantaged to earn an immediate income where they may have no other employment option,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“While the statistics show that Australia has a long way to go in addressing the issue of women’s homelessness it is wonderful to see The Big Issue has taken the lead in tackling the issue, developing a ground breaking program tailored specifically for women.”

ENDS

High resolution images from today’s event are available for media to download by visiting http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigissueaustralia/sets/72157623504749505/

Notes

The Big Issue has been operating in Australia since 1996, with vendors selling more than 5.5 million magazines and generating $9.5 million, which has gone into the pockets of homeless and unemployed people.

However, the majority of street vendors are male – many homeless and disadvantaged women have far greater and more complex range of needs, including safety and security (often caused by a history of abuse), mental and physical health (sexual and pregnancy related), disability, drug and alcohol dependency and childcare. As such, they face limited opportunities to enter the workforce in a secure and appropriate way.

The introduction of the Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise is the outcome of an extensive Feasibility Study funded by the Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Tanya Plibersek, MP.

The study had a number of key, inter-related aims, including reviewing what work opportunities best meet needs of homeless and disadvantaged women and potential markets for a subscriptions service for The Big Issue Magazine.

The outcome of this extensive study showed that a subscription service to The Big Issue Magazine represents a robust and attractive business proposition and could be designed to provide work opportunities to homeless women by involving them in the dispatch of the magazine.

The approach would meet the needs of disadvantaged women and could be delivered within their skill sets.

The Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise Business Model

The Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise will establish a viable, sustainable social enterprise providing work, training and pathway opportunities for disadvantaged women.

Subscriptions will be sold through professional telemarketing services and disadvantaged women will be employed to work as Dispatch Assistants and collate, sort and insert the magazines every fortnight.

The Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise is entirely scalable – as Subscriptions are sold, revenue is directed straight into the pockets of disadvantaged women, through provision of wages, training, mentoring and support. It is financially sustainable and totally viable after the start up phase of the program.

The Road is based on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner novel by Cormac McCarthy (‘No Country for Old Men’). A post-apocalyptic tale describing a journey taken by a father and his young son over a period of several months across a landscape blasted years before by an unnamed cataclysm that destroyed civilization and, seemingly, most life on earth.

Release: January 28, 2010
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Directed by: John Hillcoat (The Proposition)
Cast: Charlize Theron (Monster, In the Valley of Elah), Viggo Mortensen (A History Of Violence, Eastern Promises), Guy Pearce (The Proposition, Memento), Robert Duvall (We Own the Night)

To get your hands on a double pass ticket to The Road email ekogan@bigissue.org.au.

www.theroad-movie.com

A soul searching comedy, Cold Souls follows Paul Giamatti, an actor who stumbles upon an article in The New Yorker about a high-tech company that extracts, deep-freezes and stores people’s souls – possibly the key to happiness that he has been searching for. But, complications arise when Paul is the unfortunate victim of “soul-trafficking.” Giamatti’s journey takes him all the way to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap-opera actress. Balancing a tightrope between deadpan humor & pathos, and reality & fantasy, Cold Souls is a true soul searching comedy. Also starring David Strathairn, Dina Korzun and Emily Watson.

To get your hands on a double pass ticket to Cold Souls email ekogan@bigissue.org.au by November 24.

www.coldsoulsthemovie.com

Celebrities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will take part in the week long campaign, held from October 12-16 during Anti-Poverty Week.

Participating celebrities have been asked to allocate 30 mins-1 hour to sell The Big Issue magazine and assist The Big Issue in breaking down stereotypes and boosting the self-esteem and confidence of their hundreds of vendors across the country.

Support your favourite celebrity by purchasing a copy of The Big Issue off them in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane this week…

MONDAY OCTOBER 12 – SYDNEY

9-9.30am – David Koch
Front of Sunrise (Channel Seven)
Martin Place Sydney

 12-12.30pm – Craig Foster, Mariana Rudan
Cnr of Market and George St (Craig Foster)
Cnr of Market and Pitt St (Mariana Rudan)

1.30-2pm – Tim Ross
Broadway Shopping Centre, Cnr Bay and Parramatta Road, Glebe.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 13 – MELBOURNE

8-8.30am  – Hamish and Andy
Front of Young & Jacksons, Flinders St (Hamish)
Front of Flinders St Station (Andy)

12-1pm – Judith Lucy
Front of Safeway, Acland St – St Kilda

12.30-1.30pm – Peter Helliar
Front of Safeway, Smith St – Collingwood

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15 – BRISBANE

12-12.30  – Triple M’s The Cage 
GPO Queen St (Marto)
Commonwealth Bank Cnr Adelaide and Albert St (Sully)
Queens Plaza Cnr Adelaide and Edward St (Skip)
Borders Books Cnr Albert and Elizabeth St (Emily-Jade)

 4.30-5pm – Labor Member for Kingsford Smith, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett AM, MP
Queens Plaza, Adelaide and Edwards St

Big Art, an event dedicated to raising awareness and money for The Big Issue in Brisbane will profile the works of acclaimed Queensland artists including Stephen Dix, Simon McLean and David Hinchliffe. Pieces by fashion designers Easton Pearson and Bowie Wong, swimmer Geoff Huegill, and musicians The Grates will also be displayed and all available for purchase by silent or public auction.

Professionally curated and hung in the Bleeding Heart Gallery in Brisbane’s historic School of Arts Building, the works will be showcased all week from Monday October 5. Those wishing to snap up one of the unique pieces on display will need to buy tickets to a special event being held on Thursday October 8.

Event: Big Art
Date: Thursday, October 8 2009
Time: 6-8pm
Address: Bleeding Heart Gallery, School of Arts Building, 166 Ann St Brisbane
Tickets: $50 – includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and the chance to win a dinner and cook book from Philip Johnson’s e’cco bistro
To book: Contact The Big Issue in Brisbane on 07 3036 4420 or email brian@bigissue.org.au