“I come from a place where war is normal,” he begins, his voice calm yet filled with the weight of his past. Born into the chaos of a country at war, life was a daily fight for survival. As child soldiers roamed the streets and brutal orders were carried out, he learned to live in constant fear, knowing that life could be stolen in an instant.
At age 10, his family fled the dangers of their homeland, arriving in Australia through immigration, as asylum seekers, that marked the beginning of a new chapter. For his parents, leaving Africa was not a choice but a necessity—a life-or-death decision. Their love for their homeland was clear, but survival meant sacrifice. However, adjusting to a new life was anything but easy. “I knew three words: ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ and ‘Hi’.” He laughed at the memory of misunderstanding that a simple wave in Australia meant ‘hello’, not ‘come here’ as it does from his hometown!
The journey to safety brought unexpected blessings. Australia’s healthcare system diagnosed his genetic condition, sickle cell anemia, something that had gone undiagnosed back home and merely treated with basic pain relief. “Australia has saved some lives,” he says, his gratitude evident, as treatment here improved his health in ways unimaginable.
But the road ahead was still difficult. Years later, he found himself homeless. Friends he thought were family left him behind, vacating their joint rental, and leaving Hosea to foot the bills. With mounting costs and not enough income to cover them, there was no choice but to leave. “It feels like forever when you’re not sure how you’re going to eat tomorrow,” he explains. Pride kept him from asking for he
lp, even when he needed it most. The streets became his home, a dangerous and isolating existence, where people looked past him as if he didn’t exist.
Still, the experience of homelessness opened his eyes to unexpected lessons. “When you have nothing left, you discover things about yourself. You’d be surprised what you can do to survive,” he reflects. He talks of the genius found in the survival tactics of those on the streets, of conversations that showed how underestimated people experiencing homelessness often are.
“I met genuinely kind people,” he recalls, his face lighting up at the memory of strangers who didn’t offer pity, but instead asked, “Are you hungry? Let’s go get some food.” Acts of kindness, like someone buying him Chinese food, left an imprint that would last a lifetime.
Today, his goals are clear: independence and self-reliance. Music has become his outlet, a way to express himself and a testimony to his belief that “there is a time for everything.” Each song tells a story, marking moments in his journey through hardship and hope.
His time at St Bart’s has helped reignite his confidence and offered new opportunities. Whether through conversations about creating music videos, being part of community events, or simply the support he’s received, he feels a sense of hope. “I love giving back,” he says. “If I can contribute to the community that has supported me, I feel like I’m starting to rebuild my life.”
As he steps forward, hand-in-hand with the St Bart’s team, his hope for a brighter future grows stronger every day. His story is one of resilience, strength, and the belief that no matter how dark life gets, there is always a path forward—if only we are willing to take the first step.
Watch his full story here: From the Streets to the Studio – Hosea’s Story (youtube.com)
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.