Former AFL player and proud Kooma / Kunja man Rhan Hooper has been turning heads across Queensland recently with his engaging and hands on cultural programs.

Hooper spent the majority of his AFL years with the Brisbane Lions and has since been living his best life by remaining connected to culture and spreading knowledge in every way he can.

Hooper spoke with National Indigenous Times and shared insights into the process behind the program and his future plans, and even played some of his unique handmade didgeridoos.

"For me when it started off, all I wanted to do was learn how to make a didgeridoo," he said.

"I noticed that when it came to the education side, you can engage with people to help them understand our culture when it comes to family and artefacts."

Hooper note that when he was younger he didn't know much about his heritage.

"Growing up I focussed on my sport so didn't ask much about the culture," he said.

"I knew I was Indigenous. I knew the basics - which was what your totem animal is and even that was 50-50.

"So when you go out and educate people you realise it's a tool to ask questions. Because there's a lot of Indigenous kids right now, especially in the city, that don't know where they're from. It's a big gap that's our kids are lost in, within the system.

"When I talk to them (sometimes) they don't come to the program because they're embarrassed that they don't know who they are, but when you get them one on one they like to talk about it after the session's done. So I use that as a point to try and help them find where they're from" he said.

2023 will see Hooper's business continue to grow as word of mouth spreads. He hopes to achieve many things for which he has already laid a foundation.

"This year will probably be a little bit crazy, it'll be anywhere from working with kids in daycare centres to corporate events," he said.

"Booval shopping center gave us a chance to do something there and we got more people there than they've ever had for a holiday program.

"We were averaging 75-80 kids a day, over a week, and that was story telling through artwork."

Hooper's work will continue throughout the year as he forms stronger connections with organisations like Springwood Football Club, who hold an Indigenous Round for which Hooper delivers programs and even helps design the jerseys.

"I think we get a bit over 1,500 people for the day. All the clubs in the area want to play on that day as well because it's so huge," he said.

"We normally do the design for the jersey and the week leading up to it I'll get every single junior and senior team come through and do a free educational piece at the club about what all the artefacts mean and Indigenous culture.

"Then best on ground gets a handmade didgeridoo from me and same for the reserves."

Hooper's advice to the young mob out there who are still finding their feet is to pursue education.

"I always say education is key. Education and knowledge," he said.

"The same way we learn from our elders through touch and listening, in a yarning circle by storytelling and art.

"Little things that you can ask your elders like - what's our totem? where are we from? have you eaten echidna before?

"You get answers so you can jot them down and pass on that knowledge. You've only got a limited amount of time to ask these questions before it [the knowledge] is lost."