GOLD Coast has established the Jarrod Harbrow Leadership academy to help elite indigenous athletes from the region.

The Suns veteran has secured $20,000 from the AFL through the Jim Stynes scholarship fund to establish the body, which is aligned with the Suns' academy.

Every indigenous player on the Suns' list will be involved in the academy as coaches and mentors, and Harbrow has struck a deal will see every academy member get the same access to facilities, strength and conditioning and health professionals that he enjoys as an AFL footballer.

The first combine was held last weekend and there will be another in early January before the initial intake is selected prior to next season.

“We are after the cream of the crop of young indigenous talent from the Gold Coast from a range of different sports," Harbrow said.

"We will bring kids into the academy and teach them leadership, teach them to make good decisions on and off the field and how to represent themselves and their family in the community."

Harbrow has seen a number of indigenous players come and go in his time at the Suns, including Harley Bennell, who was traded to Fremantle, and Timmy Sumner, who walked out early last season with homesickness.

He has a strong relationship with local indigenous groups, forged over many hours of fishing on the Tweed River, and will call on them to assist with the academy.

"We know when young indigenous kids get drafted to an AFL club they get a bit star struck. It takes them longer to adapt and the academy aims to prepare them for that," he said.