New centre fosters Indigenous talent

• Video: Rudd opens Indigenous excellence centre (7pm TV News NSW)
• Video: Sydney's Indigenous Centre of Excellence opens (ABC News)

The $50 million centre has been built by the Indigenous Land Corporation at the 1.6 hectare site of the old Redfern Public School.

The centre has an intensive literacy tutorial centre for primary school students, community meeting rooms, a football oval and a swimming pool.

There are accommodation facilities on site and it is estimated more than 5,000 Indigenous students across the country will stay at the centre each year.

They will participate in leadership, development and sporting courses.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who opened the centre with NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, says it is one of the most important investments made in Aboriginal culture.

"It symbolises the dawn of a new era in Indigenous education, engagement and leadership," he said.

"It offers great opportunities. It offers great practical help for young Indigenous Australians to reach their full potential."

Former Wimbledon champion and board member Evonne Goolagong Cawley says she hopes the centre will become a meeting place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

"I think it's going to make a really big difference to the community because I know if I feel good about myself, my body and I feel healthy, then I feel healthier in the mind, and that's what's taken me all over the world," she said.

"You never know, we might get some champions coming out of this."

More than 20 jobs have been created for Indigenous members of staff now employed at the centre.

Source: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/26/2831720.htm?section=justin

Note - Channel 10 coverage can be found at www.ncie.org.au/news/media-gallery/105-ncie-opening-covered-on-channel-ten-news-21-01-10.html