Small steps towards solving a big issue

As a not-for-profit organisation, every dollar matters at The Big Issue Australia (TBI). So, when their incumbent mobility provider announced a CPI increase of $30K, they knew something had to change.  

Optus delivered in spades, with a 40% cost reduction and 300% more data, plus skilled transition and ongoing account management services that improve efficiency and productivity. 

Most people in Australia are familiar with the sight of vendors selling copies of The Big Issue magazine outside railways stations, shopping centres and other high traffic locations. Many sellers are regulars and well-known in their local community, always up for a friendly chat.  

What’s less known is the impact that buying a copy of the magazine can have, providing the vendor with vital income to help them rebuild their lives.  

“The best thing about The Big Issue is I’ve met so many nice people. They stop and have a joke, have a yack. Worth getting out of bed at six o’clock for.” – Clem, The Big Issue vendor  

The charity behind this smart idea, TBI, is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that’s dedicated to creating work opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. Simply put, they help people help themselves.

Image source: Vendor Craig, The Big Issue

During the competitive tender process, the team at Optus worked hard to understand the organisation’s needs – which not only included price, but also inclusions, coverage and an easier way to make changes. 

"As a social enterprise, we always monitor our expenses closely and look to identify cost savings and efficiencies." – Jon Whitehead, Chief Financial and Operations Officer   

The result was a compelling commercial offer that delivered a 40% cost saving on their mobile and data services and tripled the available data inclusions. The Optus coverage footprint easily meets the organisation’s needs and support from Optus was central to a seamless transition process. 

Today, Optus continues to provide a direct contact for all moves, adds and changes along with account support. “The best outcome has been that IT is now free to do other things. An hour-long change now takes just one email to sort, and nothing has been lost in the process whereas this didn’t happen previously,” said Jon Whitehead, Chief Financial & Operations Officer at The Big Issue. 

Beyond mobility, there are further partnership opportunities that are being explored, including donations through Optus’ corporate social responsibility platform, Yes 4 Good, and networking with key business partners to win further support for The Big Issue.  

"There’s a nice alignment between our organisations’ operations and also our values. We’re very excited about where we could go together in a formal strategic partnership." – Donnette Rushworth, Corporate Partnership Manager  

To find out more about partnering with Optus for impact, contact your account manager or request a call back.