The Big Issue is a fortnightly, independent magazine, which is sold on the streets around Australia. It’s a high-quality, general interest publication that features arts and entertainment, humorous columns, current affairs, lifestyle, personal experiences and our own particular brand of irreverence. The editorial team is headed by Walkley Award-winning journalist and author Alan Attwood.

Click here to check out the latest edition.

Where is The Big Issue sold?

 The magazine is sold by authorised vendors on the streets of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and regional Victoria. To find your nearest vendor click here.

Who sells The Big Issue?

Vendors come from a range of backgrounds including mental illness, homelessness, long-term unemployment, intellectual and physical disability, drug and alcohol dependency, family breakdown and others suffering from social isolation, such as refugees.

How does selling The Big Issue impact Vendors?

Findings from our research indicate that selling The Big Issue Magazine has a positive impact on Vendors’ lives. The impact is felt in a number of areas including:

- Social connections, skills and opportunities to engage with the ‘mainstream’ public through selling The Big Issue Magazine.

- Improve and enhanced health; which includes nutrition, general physical health, decreased and less problematic substance use and improvements in emotional wellbeing as a result of being engaged in meaningful activity.

- Improved housing and accommodation experiences, including a decrease in primary homelessness.

- Enhanced personal factors such as confidence and self worth through enacting the valued role of being a Vendor.

- Improved quality of life by being able to afford non-necessity items and engage in regular citizenship activities within contemporary Australian society.

Who reads The Big Issue

Circulation : 30,213+ (paid for)

• Readership : 242,000
• Male : 47%
• Female : 53%
• 18-39 : 61%
• Tertiary education : 66%
• AB socio-economic : 48%
• Work full-time : 56%
• HH Income 70K+ : 47%
• Socially Aware : 43%

(Roy Morgan research July 2009)

Who writes for the magazine?

Many well-established writers feature regularly in The Big Issue – including  Fiona Scott-Norman, Mic Looby and Helen Razer – but freelance submissions and pitches are also welcome. Contributor guidelines are available by clicking here.