For your journo story, have you looked at the Southside News story list in the UTS Journalism folder on UTS online? That might give you some ideas. Go to Redfern community centre, check out City of Sydney events on their website.
Who is your teacher for J1?
The major thing going on in Redfern at the moment is the Redfern/Waterloo redevelopment....
If you are really stuck for stories, go and visit local shopkeepers and ask them what are some of the problems/goings on in the area at the moment. People in small shops are usually willing to chat!
Check out and see if the local schools are doing anything exciting.... e.g. a musical, excursion, new learning program, etc. See if there are any art exhibitions/performances happening in Redfern.
Best suggestion is to hit the streets.... I had my first news story for J1 published in The Point because I just went out with a friend in Glebe and we asked shopkeepers what was going on in the neighborhood and got several good story ideas.
Eventually you will be able to see everything as "news stories".... you will see construction going on somewhere, wonder why, who by etc.... you will see interesting people doing interesting things and wonder what their story is.
Hit the streets, pick up brochures and local papers, and you will find lots of potential stories, guaranteed!