by Simon Sellars

‘Subterrain #2: An Introduction’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #2, July 2007.

Subterrain is a magazine that provides an opportunity for homeless and marginalised people, primarily those using the services at Ozanam Community Centre (see opposite), to tell their story. That’s about it as far as mantras or mission statements go. We’ve already [...]

interview by Simon Sellars

‘Housing Is A Human Right: An Interview with Miloon Kothari, UN Special Rapporteur’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #2, July 2007.

In August 2006, the PILCH Homeless Person’s Legal Clinic held a consumer forum for people who are homeless or who have experienced homelessness. The idea was to invite this particular demographic [...]

interview by Simon Sellars & Anna Krien

‘Music Is Not A Bloody Race’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #2, July 2007.

There are two music groups for the benefit of clients at the Ozanam Community Centre. There’s one on Mondays, run by Alan Pavlikas, which is more of a rock-band affair, and one on Tuesdays, run [...]

interview by Simon Sellars

‘Whatever Goes into the Mix’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #2, July 2007.

Alan Pavlikas manages the Ozanam Community Centre’s band, Shallow Rabbit, which has released one CD and has had a documentary made about it (see Subetrrain #1). intrigued, I crashed one of their jam sessions and collared Alan, guitarist Keith [...]

by Simon Sellars

‘An Introduction to Subterrain’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #1, December 2005.

In modern welfare work, it’s rapidly becoming clear that ‘homeless and marginalised’ people need more than simply food and housing. Everyone wants to find meaning in their lives, to find freedom of speech – to find a voice. Artistic expression can [...]

Paul in Sweet Dreams; photo by Alison Huth
interview by Simon Sellars

‘Sweet Dreams: Shaken not Stirred’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #1, December 2005.

Theatremakers Nadja Kostich and Jeremy Angerson began a rewarding collaboration with Big Issue vendors after seeing a TV ad featuring several sellers singing for their supper. According to Jeremy, “we stopped to [...]

Kylie in Sweet Dreams; photo by Alison Huth
interviews by Simon Sellars

‘Sweet Dreams: Back to Waking Life’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #1, December 2005.

The play Sweet Dreams took an unflinching look at the battle that Big Issue vendors Paul, Kylie, Jim, Robert and Allan fought to survive drug addiction, physical disabilities, incarceration and the [...]

interview by Simon Sellars

‘Arnold Zable: Hazards of the Game’: originally published in Subterrain magazine #1, December 2005.

Arnold Zable is a Melbourne storyteller who writes about memory and history, displacement and community, the experience of the Jewish diaspora, Aboriginal issues and Indigenous education, and the multiplicity of cultures within Australia. In 2002, in conjunction with the [...]

Photo courtesy RecLink
interview by Simon Sellars

‘RecLink: Positive High’ was originally published in Subterrain magazine #1, December 2005.

RecLink was established in Melbourne in 1990 to help people from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds enjoy sport and recreation on a therapeutic level, with knock-on benefits like improved health and well being. RecLink involves a network of agencies [...]

Street Socceroo Training
All photography by Simone Egger
interviews by Simon Sellars

‘Three Socceroos: Dave, Shane & Yousef’: originally published in Subterrain magazine #1, December 2005.

In 2005, for the first time, Australia fielded a team in the Homeless World Cup, led by Big Issue editor Martin Hughes. The Cup, founded as a way to create opportunities for homeless [...]