When Matt reflects on his journey, he speaks with a deep sense of gratitude and resilience, a story shaped by hardship and hope. Life didn’t prepare him for the challenges he would face—childhood instability, fractured relationships, and eventually, homelessness. Yet, through perseverance and support, Matt found his way to St Bart’s, where he’s finally building a foundation for his future.
His challenges began when the house he was renting was sold, and he found himself without a home. With few close friends or family to rely on due to years of isolation caused by mental health struggles, Matt turned to his uncle for temporary refuge. “It wasn’t easy. I felt like I was imposing, and it was hard to see how I could get out of that situation,” he recalls.
The uncertainty of his living situation weighed heavily. “I kept going in circles. I needed a job to afford housing, but I needed a stable place to stay to keep a job,” Matt explains. This cycle was compounded by the emotional toll of his upbringing. “I grew up in a broken family where I didn’t learn the tools to deal with life. That lack of stability followed me into adulthood.”
Matt’s turning point came when he discovered St Bart’s through Entry Point, a referral service. “I called every day, every morning,” he remembers. “It was tough, but I just kept persisting. I knew I had to.”
Arriving at St Bart’s was like a breath of fresh air. “The day I got here, it was the first time in a long time I could feel a sense of relief,” Matt shares. Having a safe place to stay allowed him to focus on rebuilding his life. He credits the stability and support he’s received as transformative: “Just having a roof over my head, somewhere secure to sleep, made all the difference. It gave me the mental space to start thinking about what I needed to do next.”
Matt has big plans for the future. While he’s not yet ready to return to work full-time, he’s taking steps to heal and grow. “I’ve always wanted to help people. Maybe social work or something similar. I’m learning to take things step by step, to see how I cope with challenges and build from there.”
He’s also working on rebuilding relationships with loved ones. “My mum has seen a big change in me. I’m working on my anger, self-esteem, and how I deal with things. It’s a process, but I’m learning to identify what I need to work on and get help.”
Matt’s journey is a testament to resilience and the power of support. As he puts it, “If you keep trying, things will turn around. You’ve got to give it a go, and you’ll find that help is out there. St Bart’s has given me that chance, and I’m not taking it for granted.”
Matt’s story is a reminder that no matter how difficult the road, with persistence and the right support, it’s possible to rebuild. At St Bart’s, he’s not just finding stability—he’s taking steps to build a new future.
St Bart’s acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land that we live and work on, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We are privileged to work with, and alongside, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and encourage those who are emerging as leaders.
St Bart’s is committed to diversity and inclusion in all its forms. We welcome and support the health and wellbeing of all people, regardless of background, age, ethnicity, religion and gender identity.