Big Issue Excursion

World of Business Excursion to The Big Issue, 12th October 

On Wednesday 12th October, Year 10 World of Business (WOB) students attended The Big Issue Magazine’s education workshop, where they were able to better understand the unique role of social enterprise in addressing some of Australia’s most critical social issues. 

Our students heard first-hand from people who had experienced homelessness or disadvantage and how the Big Issue business model had provided them with a way to rebuild their lives. Students were able to reflect on some of the stereotypes surrounding hardship in our communities, careers, and interactions with others, as well as gain a grounding in social enterprise. 

Year 10 WOB came away upbeat by the discussions and the people that they had met. Natalie Duieb commented, “By giving [homeless people] the opportunity to communicate with the community and feel part of the community it not only helps them get stability in their lives but also social skills too. Instead of just giving money to the homeless, the Big Issue gives them a chance to create something for themselves and learn newfound skills that they may have never known they had.” 

Chris Lew added, “Overall, the personal anecdote of someone’s personal experience showed me how unfair the world is. This modified my view on the homeless.” 

Some students were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the interactions and the format of the workshop. Paul Fetsis said, “I was expecting a boring school program that I could just sit through and have a day out of it, but it was enjoyable, and I have learnt very interesting things [and] that I can now resonate with people who are much less fortunate than me." 

Others felt that the workshop had embedded their grasp of social enterprise. Eve Gascoigne concluded, “The experience allowed the class to juxtapose a traditional (or more profit-oriented business model) to that of a social enterprise, as well as cement the class’s overall understanding of homelessness as a pressing societal issue.” 

Dominic Paine

World of Business Teacher