Redfern to house youth centre

The centre will target children aged between 10 and 17 and be built on the former site of the Redfern Public School.

It is expected to help around 5,000 children a year.

Indigenous Land Corporation deputy chairman Sam Jefferies says it is a step forward in breaking the cycle of Aboriginal disadvantage.

"The centre will provide immense opportunities to get kids to participate in their chosen endeavours that they want to do, be it education or sporting or whatever else," he said.

"Developing this facility will hopefully cater towards the needs of those young people."

Mr Jefferies says building the specialist education and sport training centre is the best way to help Aboriginal families improve their circumstances.

He says Indigenous children from the Northern Territory, for example, could be targeted to take part in the experience.

"If NASCA [the National Aboriginal Sports Corporation] is part of their AFL program, which is Nhulunbuy where AFL is there keen sport, [if] they want to come and participate we can develop the program for that purpose," he said.

"They get a couple of days with the Sydney Swans.

"Those sorts of things make a whole range of difference in attitude in a young person's life from any where in the country."