In line with his fighting mantra inside the ring, pint-sized Shaun Thomas continues to pull no punches outside either since Boxing Victoria named its first Aboriginal coach.

The 41-year-old, who has leisurely slipped into semi-retirement earlier this year, took on one of the state assistant's jobs with gusto, only two weeks before the opening bell sounded on the Australian Schools Boxing Championships.

Thomas, who was born in the small Palawa community of Truwana – known as Cape Barren Island – off the north-east coast of Tasmania, sensed pride in setting the legacy of the historical accomplishment that ahead of NAIDOC Week was earned on merit.

"In 2023, this should already be happening, but there's also a process to it," he said.

"You can't just be give these positions because you've boxed or done this or done that.

"Being a coach is around role modelling and leadership. I have that.

"There's been plenty of Aboriginal boxers out there, and they're still coming through, but there is a difference between being a boxer and being a coach."

Thomas played out his role in Victoria's dominance at the recent nationals in Adelaide to prepare its 35 state amateur boxers to produce a standout 19-gold medal haul.

Four gold alone came from its five female fighters including one of Thomas's proteges.

The influence of the eight-time Tasmanian champion is no coincidence after slowly phasing in mentoring some of the top female juniors in this twilight of his career.

"I feel really blessed to be a part of Boxing Victoria's coaching staff now," he said.

"Coming back from those sort of numbers in my first year was just wow."

The Boxing Australia four-day carnival has already proven to be educational for the East Keilor father of two writing the latest chapter towards his coaching playbook.

Thomas could not get enough of shaping both the fists and minds of the young boxers.

From organising early-morning weigh-ins at 7am through to a focus on refuelling the teenagers between flights, he was fully vested in the hands-on interaction.

"The whole time I was full of emotions up there," he said, "and I only just happened to get my voice back too."

For a level-one accredited trainer that by his own admission is still learning the ropes from a corner, the initiation to start from scratch in an environment of putting team first has left the enthusiastic Thomas pinching himself rather than punching others.

But Thomas should hardly be surprised after always flighting well above his weight.

Once as a forceful scrapper across four weight divisions, but now as a hard-working, strategic mentor.

In just the first year of the coaching caper, he's already been the mastermind behind three female novice state champions and two elite state champions.

Two of his juniors in Adelaide, including one of the four gold medallists, have already fought for Australia, and returned from a recent Singapore tournament with medals.

"Some coaches say they don't even get that in a lifetime," Thomas said.

That kind of tale of the tape has been enough to impress wise heads at Boxing Victoria against a backdrop that more talented Indigenous combatants than just Thomas have struggled to give back on their success.

Thomas has no problem to be held up as an example, a role model, for boxers just like him, whose own lives come from the peripheries of life, who seek something better.

"I have always had compliments about how I coach, but like most Aboriginal men we don't always have that strong belief," he said.

"Going over and playing my part among such an experienced team, getting that kind of respect and the support that I'm actually doing a really good job is great to hear.

"I am going to take over that space – I really want to be one of the best coaches out there that this country has produced, Aboriginal or not."

To chat with Thomas is to understand the ease but honesty he conducts his business.

He's a straight-shooter, but not unreasonable.

A considered thinker, a dedicated planner, a hard worker, and importantly, a man of culture.

He wants to set new precedents for First Nations boxers that aligns with the vision of Boxing Victoria.

"They now have those cultural and diversity inclusion roles that come into our space," Thomas said.

"Boxing is really, probably 30 years behind, compared to footy."

The connection to culture was another step in his mentoring in Adelaide and forming strong bonds.

One was with proud Yorta Yorta boxer Chris Boland that Thomas heaped praise on.

The Shepparton youth won the national bantamweight gold medal.

"Young Chrissy is an absolute talent coming through our ranks," Thomas said.

"I can say the boxing world is his oyster, really."

The other was Gamilaroi youth Thor Jackson, who looked as good as any Indigenous prize fighter, but he unexpectedly got beaten in the semi-finals.

"There was definitely a lot of talent there and for that reason, I am thinking it is well overdue to have more Aboriginal coaches in that space," Thomas said.

The counsellor in another life without gloves understands what fighters like him have gone through.

It takes a cultural understanding to appreciate each other.

"It comes down to living the experiences," Thomas said.

"I've lived it and done a lot of hard working around boxing in terms of the mental health side, the suicide that's there, the emotional wellbeing, the eating disorders, managing the weights.

"All this sort of stuff connects to being able to emotionally connect with fighters."