Year 10 World of Business

World of Business Excursion

Towards the end of term 1, along with the rest of my Year 10 World of Business class, I visited the Big Issue headquarters in Melbourne’s CBD, where we explored the role of social enterprise. The Big Issue is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, committed to creating employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation, and disadvantage.

My experience with the Big Issue was an inspiration. Throughout the educational presentations I learnt valuable life lessons and realized how lucky and blessed I was to have lived a privileged life. The people working for and selling the Big Issue magazine had very challenging starts to their lives and yet they prevailed and fought through their difficulties.

We learnt about how this life saving enterprise originated and sustained success. The Big Issue maintains consistent work for the homeless and those with lack of qualifications. It provides great opportunities in many different departments and never discriminates. Many women across the organisation have experienced domestic violence and in response The Big issue offers a safer office-based department to keep these employees feeling more secure, rather than selling the magazine in the city.

We were lucky enough to have an employee who is currently working in two departments (events and selling the magazine) share his devastating personal story about how he persevered time and time again until he was finally offered an opportunity by The Big Issue to start selling the magazine. He now lives a more comfortable life thanks to the consistent pay cheque he receives.

Jack Jones

Year 10