The Big Issue celebrates three decades in Australia with special edition

feel good The Big Issue celebrates three decades in Australia with special edition Tue 9 Jun 2026 at 5:23pm In short: A magazine sold by people experiencing homelessness, unemployment and disadvantage is marking 30 years of operations in Australia. The Big Issue first launched in June 1996 and its sellers have become a recognisable fixture in CBD strips around the country. The Big Issue's 30th anniversary edition is out now. For many city workers across Australia the sight of vendors selling The Big Issue on street corners is part of the daily commute. The magazine is sold by registered vendors who are experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. Many greet passers-by with a smile, whether or not they stop to purchase a copy, and become part of the community fabric. This month marks the magazine's 30th birthday in Australia, and as they hold the special anniversary edition high the vendors are celebrating the publication's ongoing dedication to creating work opportunities for those doing it tough. David Lee has been selling The Big Issue full time for seven years and said the magazine is "really helping out". For him it is more than a typical job. "I get to connect to my local community in Adelaide and a lot of people know me," Mr Lee said. "It improves my own satisfaction and my own standard of living." Michael Lech has lived with cerebral palsy since he was a child. He said prior to becoming a vendor for The Big Issue he was earning 30 cents an hour in disability employment services. Selling the magazine changed his life, allowing him to live alone, pay rent and travel. "I couldn't get out of the house because I didn't have the money to do it, now I can actually get out," Mr Lech said. "[It] gives me great pleasure to have this job." The Big Issue's first Australian edition, released in June 1996, featured a cover picturing a busker juggling in front of Melbourne's Art Centre. In the years since the likes of musicians Taylor Swift, Baker Boy, and Kate Bush, as well as actor Rachel Griffiths and Sir David Attenborough have graced the front cover. The magazine's regular Stories from the Street features highlight the issues that matter most to vendors. The 68-page 30th birthday party issue features vendor memories and reflections, interviews with famous supporters, and a rundown of the magazine's history and memorable moments. It will also deposit more money directly in the pockets of vendors, with two thirds of the $30 pricepoint going directly to the sellers. The Big Issue's SA operations manager Matthew Stedman said the edition is a celebration of the magazine's longevity. "When you think about all those times we've been through, the GFC, the COVID times, it was hard to believe that we were going to be here, but we're still here," he said. "I think that's a testament to our vendors that work extremely hard to sell on the street, that they go out there every single day." The Big Issue runs programs that provide low-barrier opportunities for people to earn a meaningful income, build their confidence and connect with their community and support networks. In addition to the magazine, the organisation also runs the Women's Workforce, The Big Issue Classroom, and the Community Street Soccer Program.