Clark Donovan describes himself as a proud Gumbaynggirr and Gunditjmara man. The 24-year-old was born and raised in south-western Sydney to Indigenous parents.
His sister is multi-award winning . But Clark is forging his own path to success.
As well as being in his fifth year of a Bachelor of Laws, he’s also completing a diploma in Mandarin Chinese at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
"Why is an Aboriginal kid from Campbelltown speaking Mandarin?" Clark says. It’s partly down to the people he has met while studying in Australia.
Clark Donovan is completing a diploma in Mandarin Chinese. Source: Shane Lo
At university, Clark formed relationships with students from different countries, many from China, he tells SBS News.
"We often go out to Chinese restaurants and I hear them speaking Mandarin and they'd get bigger and fresher servings, so naturally I decided to learn Mandarin," he jokes.
But that's not the only reason. Throughout his schooling, there was no opportunity to speak and learn his own native language.
"Coming from an Aboriginal background, my dad grew up in Bowraville (in the northern NSW hinterland), so the access to education was never there for my people,” he says.
“Most of the Indigenous languages are lost.”
Instead, he’s learning something completely new.
"Whenever I get the opportunity to learn anything I always take it with as much pride as I can,” he says.
"So when I got the opportunity to study Mandarin at UTS I took it with full force."
With the help of CareerTrackers, a not-for-profit organisation that assists Indigenous university students in securing internships, Clark started an internship with global law firm Dentons.
He says speaking Mandarin has been helpful, as most of the firm’s work comes from China.
"Through that I was able to strengthen my own legal knowledge and also my Chinese with the interaction through clients," Clark says.
"I'm (also) able to use my language in a professional setting."
In 2016, he delivered an Acknowledgement of Country in Mandarin at CareerTrackers's annual gala dinner (see video below). He has also completed scholarships in China, where he's achieved high grades.
Clark’s passion for the language has also inspired others, including his good friend Jenixon Lin.
"When I met Clark he had already been learning Mandarin," he says.
"I learnt Mandarin as a child and then lost it.
"When I saw Clark I was like ‘wow, he speaks really good Mandarin’, so I did a few classes with him and I just try to practice with him."
Clark, right, has inspired friend Jenixon Lin to re-learn Mandarin. Source: SBS News
It has also inspired Clark to consider pursuing a Chinese start-up venture in the future.
"With the rapid development of technology and its access to the west I think it would be a really good market," he says.
China is Australia's largest trading partner. It's also estimated that more than 100 million people outside the country, are studying the language.
"I think over the next few years Australia and China are definitely going to have stronger relations,” Clark says.
"So what better way to strengthen those ties than to learn the language?"
