When Raphael Thomas took part in the Indigenous Australian Engineering School in 2019, a whole new world was opened up to him.

Then a Year 11 student, he travelled to Sydney for the week-long program, meeting fellow high school students from around Australia and connecting with those already studying or working in engineering fields.

"I didn't really know what engineering was. I didn't really have any role models in that world," the Luritja Wambaya man told AAP.

"Afterwards, I knew I wanted to pursue engineering."

Raphael has now completed his bachelor of civil engineering at Flinders University in Adelaide, and wants to give back to the program that inspired his journey.

Stepping into the role of 'house parent', acting as a mentor and facilitator for each of the young STEM enthusiast

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