Meet David. A professor of Psychology and advocate for aboriginal rights here in Australia. Having taken a early retirement to focus on his own passions David is someone we can learn from. Following what you believe in and stand for is something that jumps to my mind when I think about David. It is so important to follow your passions and dreams as you would never be able to compete with someone who loves what they do if you just do it without passion. If you love what you do, you are better than any academic or person who doesn't perform using their heart in the profession. I mean really how do you compete with someone who loves to read about financial trends in his free time when you actually hate being in the finance sector? Its logic.
What is your name? David Clark
Where do you come from? I was born in UK and moved to Australia at the end of 2008. I had lived in South Wales for the past 16 years before moving here.
As a little child, do you remember what was your dream job? I never had a dream job as a little child, but I did think I wanted to be certain things at different stages of my youth. I loved sport so thought I wanted to be a commentator, or cameraman, or newspaper reporter. I always loved books, so thought of becoming a writer. Later, I wanted to be a film director as I loved film and I wanted to tell stories visually.
My friends here (who I knew from the age of 9 – 14 when I lived here) tell me I always wanted to help people. They expected me to be doing what I am now doing, helping people who have problems and tackling social justice issues.
What is your profession now? I took early retirement from being a Professor of Psychology at the University of Swansea in the UK in 2006. I had run a successful neuroscience research laboratory for many years - studying the role of brain chemicals in behaviour – before changing field and working with people with drug and alcohol problems and mental health problems (and their families). I also taught students at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
I took early retirement so that I could work full-time in the community empowering people to overcome substance use problems and improve government systems of health and social care. I developed a successful online recovery community.
Now, I work for myself. I am trying to help Indigenous people improve their health and wellbeing, in part through my Sharing Culture initiative (www.sharingculture.info). Sadly, our government-based systems of health and social care don’t work at all well – moreover, they are paternalistic and disempowering. The lack of success of these systems is reflected by the record levels of suicide, incarcerations and child removals amongst Indigenous people.
I aim to empower Indigenous people by creating educational resources and documentary films focusing on health and wellbeing. And highlighting the healing initiatives that work – so that others can learn from them - and telling the stories of the people who have healed from adversity.
Are you happy with your work life? I love what I do and I am deeply moved so often by people who have healed or recovered from great adversity, e.g. healed from trauma of drug addiction. Often these people go on to help other people, which I think is amazing. I believe very strongly in social justice / human rights issues. I believe I am doing the right things and that I am good at what I do – that makes me happy.
Sadly, our government-based health and social care systems have become uncaring and too self-focused. They seem to be there to help themselves, rather than the people they are supposed to help. I am very unhappy about this state of affairs and want to change it.
What I am also not happy about at times is the fact that I cannot find funding to do the work I do, despite the fact that the approach I use is known to facilitate healing. This is particularly ironic when government-based systems of care are doing so poorly in helping Indigenous people improve their health and wellbeing. Few successful healing initiatives are funded. Sadly, far too few people in society understand the situation – and many don’t care.
If you could relive your life what advise would you give yourself? Sadly, a negative thing comes to mind first. Don’t always be so trusting. Not everyone wants to help other people like you do. You may think that systems of health and social care (and many of the people who work in them) care about the people they are supposed to help and do the best thing for them. Sadly, often they do not.
I know that this can be viewed as a cynical attitude, but I could have saved myself a lot of time and grief by understanding this. I wouldn’t change what I am doing – I love it - I would just have done things differently at times.
And the second piece of advice: - be happy!!!
What does happiness mean for you? Being with my children – who live in the UK – and my partner here in Perth.
Was there a moment of doubt or darkness in your life? If so how did you manage to overcome this negativity? There have been a number of periods of darkness in my life. I’m not quite sure how I dealt with them at times, but I guess I always knew there was light on the other side.
Life can be challenging, but as humans we have great resilience and self-healing abilities. We should never forget that. And there are always people much worse off than we are, even during dark times.
If you could grant yourself one wish, what would it be? To have the money to spend more time with my children, here in Australia (with my lovely partner Linda) and in the UK. I miss Annalie (28), Ben (19), Sam (13) and Natasha (10) terribly. We are very close and I am very proud of each of them.
What is the most important thing in life? Family and your health and happiness.
What advise for life can you give me? “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Steve Jobs
Be a warrior and stand up for what you believe in.
Be there for your partner and children.
Here David purchased this lovely Indigenous painting.
In his earlier years.
With his adorable children.
Keeping fit is also important.
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