Tahlia Prior awarded Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year

Civil engineering student Tahlia Prior has been recognised for her outstanding academic achievements at this year’s Premier’s Science Awards.

Ms Prior — a Baldivis local and proud Ballardong-Whadjuk Nyungar-Wajarri Yamatji woman — is in her final year of studies at Curtin University.

She has excelled academically in elder and traditional owner community representation, as well as connecting with industry partners and opportunities.

She has already been recognised by significant organisations in her field for her technical engineering capabilities at this early stage of her career.

Her focus on contributing to a wide range of community initiatives throughout Western Australia is recognised by wider Aboriginal and engineering professional communities.

Ms Prior said that “the recognition of an award like this facilitates access to me professionally, but (also) personally as this award recognises Indigenous knowledge alongside Western science.”

When asked what she hopes to do after graduating, Ms Prior said: “I’m planning to stay involved with university and also staying connected with community.”

“Currently I’m assisting with a $1 million project by the University of Queensland; they’re creating a ... technology project that digitally translates culture.”

“So projects like these ones are really what I want to be getting involved in as I progress in my career, because it’s really about elevating Indigenous knowledge and elevating the Aboriginal community within STEM.”