The new 'Sydney Zoo', which is still seeking planning approval, signed a deal with Indigenous not-for-profit group Muru Mittigar at a public ceremony on Friday.
"We know real jobs result in wellbeing and pride and the fulfillment a job brings to a household and a family," said Muru Mittigar chief executive Peter Chia before signing the Memorandum of Understanding.
The zoo has promised to employ a total of about 50 full time staff and up to 50 casual staff.
NSW tourism minister Stuart Ayres said on Friday: "To be able to create a partnership like we're creating today, which provides job opportunities for young Aboriginal people through this MOU and also provides an opportunity to share this deep and rich culture around the world, is something that is not just special but truly exciting.”
The latest national survey shows unemployment rates for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people are higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts in all age groups.
The largest gap occurs in the younger demographic, with more than 30 per cent of the Indigenous population between the age of 15 and 24 unemployed.
Indigenous ranger trainer Leanne Watson said the ranger job was well suited for many Indigenous people.
"It will be Aboriginal education, so teaching our culture, trying to promote how good our culture is,” she said.
“Trying to break away from the stereotyping, have our people involved with confidence to share knowledge and culture.
"We need to be able to train Aboriginal people and feed into employment on things that they are really interested and proud of."
Indigenous ranger trainer Kyle Nicholls Australians and tourists would benefit.
"It's important that they know about Australian history, about the Aboriginal people and for them to come over here to learn about our culture our way of living, our way of life for hunting and things like that."
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Sydney Zoo CEO Jake Burgess said the zoo hoped to make the Indigenous education programs a central part of the zoo.
"lt's the core of our Australian animals program as oppose to something that from in my experience tends to be incidental in some respects,” he said.
The zoo is still waiting for planning approval and if approved hopes to open by 2018.
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