The speaker will be Joseph Santamaria.

Joseph was born in 1967 to an Italian father and Maltese mother.

From mid-1976 to May 1983 he lived in Frankston Victoria where he experienced racism due to his family’s ethnicity.

His family then moved to the Ballarat region of Victoria at the age of 15 to try the hobby farm life.

Joseph worked in factories for two decades and currently works as a Property and Services Manager overseeing the maintenance and partial development of two Christian College’s.

One is from kinder to year twelve and the other is prep to grade 6 and growing. He also currently pastors a church in Dandenong Victoria. 

He always tried to obtain his manhood by the world’s standards, but wondered what is it to be a man and what purpose does man really have in the world? Why are we here?

In 1991 he decided to take his own life, but God spoke to him and said “Wait! There’s something for you. There is a purpose for your life.”

After waiting four years Joseph says he was born again, grew strong in Christ and developed spiritually through seasons with Christ and a series of leadership roles in the church.

Joseph is married with one son and enjoys time with his family, gardening, watching movies, camping, fishing, 4wdriving, riding motorbikes, welding projects and handyman activities. He believes the key to a fulfilled life is to totally surrender to Jesus Christ.

Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention.