VCE Vocational Major
The Big Issue Melbourne Year 11 VCE VM
When we think about homelessness in Melbourne, most of us picture people sleeping rough on the streets of the CBD. However, our VCE Vocational Major (VM) class recently discovered that the reality is much closer to home. Right now in Victoria, over 30,000 people are experiencing homelessness. Staggeringly, 25% of them are young people between the ages of 12 and 24. That means one in four people without a secure place to live is a teenager or young adult.
Driven by Melbourne’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis, skyrocketing rental prices, and severe housing shortages, homelessness has seen a massive "suburban shift." It is no longer confined to the inner city; it actively impacts families in middle and outer metropolitan schools and communities like ours. For teenagers, this crisis often takes the form of "hidden homelessness"—couch-surfing between friends' houses, living out of cars, or staying in unsafe, overcrowded temporary accommodation. Because of the intense shame and stigma surrounding this issue, many young people hide their situation, keeping them from seeking help.
To help us understand this issue, we attended an educational workshop run by The Big Issue, an independent organisation operating across Australia dedicated to tackling poverty and homelessness by giving people a sustainable way to earn an income.
Inside the Workshop with Siena
Our first presenter, Siena, explained the clever social enterprise model behind the organisation. Vendors buy copies of The Big Issue magazine for $4.50 and sell them to the public for $9.00. Keeping the $4.50 profit allows them to afford everyday necessities, while fostering a profound sense of independence and self-confidence. Siena also highlighted how many women feel unsafe selling magazines on the street, which led to the creation of The Big Issue Women’s Workforce, a brilliant initiative providing women with a safe, supportive environment to earn their own income through internal packing and sorting work.
To demonstrate the devastating impact of social exclusion, Siena ran an interactive group activity. She intentionally left one of our classmates, Harrison, out of the groups to simulate how it feels to be unfairly isolated. This powerful exercise connected directly to how people experiencing homelessness or living with disabilities face systemic discrimination when looking for work, making it incredibly difficult to support themselves and their families.
Simon’s Story: A Journey of Resilience
The highlight of the day was hearing from our guest speaker, Simon, who shared his deeply personal lived experience with homelessness. Simon spoke courageously about suffering from addiction and being homeless for most of his life. After sustaining an injury that left him unable to secure traditional employment, he fell into a deep depression, unsure of his purpose or future.
Simon explained that The Big Issue completely turned his life around. Without it, he wouldn’t be where he is today. By working as a vendor, he built up the income and stability needed to rebuild his life and support his family. Simon reflected on how his past struggles have profoundly shaped the way he raises his own children today, wishing he had made different choices earlier in life but focusing entirely on giving them a better, easier upbringing. Our cohort was deeply moved by his vulnerability, and everyone responded with the utmost kindness and respect. Simon's story left a lasting impact on every single person in the room.
Moving Forward with Empathy
It is easy to look at someone experiencing homelessness and assume they must have made vastly different life choices than we did. Housing security is often fragile. A sudden medical emergency, a layoff, a divorce, or the death of a primary earner can quickly push an average person or family over the edge. The day emphasised our shared vulnerability.
Ultimately, The Big Issue proved to us that when you combine structural support and economic opportunity with genuine human understanding, you can help people change their lives. We want to thank Siena and Simon for opening our eyes, and we encourage our entire school community to support Big Issue vendors when you see them out in Melbourne or by subscribing to the magazine by clicking on the link below.
https://thebigissue.org.au/our-programs/the-magazine/the-magazine-subscribe/
Reported by the Year 11 VCE VM Student Cohort -
Year 12 Community Project at the Salvation Army
By Shetayah Gruneklee
As part of our Year 12 Community Project, our class has been volunteering at the Salvation Army for two hours each visit. During our time there, we help prepare food for community members, serve lunch to those who come in, and assist with preparing food items for people to take home with their groceries.
This experience has given us a valuable insight into the importance of supporting our local community and helping those who may be facing difficult circumstances. It has also allowed us to develop important skills such as teamwork, communication, and empathy while making a positive difference in the lives of others.
One of the most rewarding parts of the experience has been meeting the people who come in for lunch and working alongside them. Building connections, hearing their stories, and sharing conversations has made the experience meaningful and memorable for many of us.
Our time at the Salvation Army has shown us how small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on others. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an important organisation and look forward to continuing our involvement throughout our community project.