The Rudd Labor Government is providing $18,000 to Marrickville High School for a program to help ensure the successful transition of indigenous students from primary to secondary school.

Anthony Albanese visited the school today to meet students and teachers involved in the program.

The objective of the school's Be Proud! Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap Initiative is to improve attendance and increase successful Year 12 completions of indigenous students.

The funding will help engage a local coordinator who will act as a mentor to 35 indigenous students, providing support and encouraging greater involvement and participation in school.

"This initiative involves communities and parents working with the School to address the significant educational disadvantages experienced by indigenous students," said Anthony Albanese.

"This includes improving students' attendance, literacy and numeracy skills, school retention, Year 12 attainment and school to work transitions."

Funding for this initiative comes from the Federal Government's Whole of School Intervention Strategy which is made up of Parent School Partnerships and Homework Centres.

The Parent School Partnerships Initiative encourages parents of indigenous students, indigenous communities, schools and other organisation to work together to overcome local barriers to education. Homework Centres provide a supervised after-school environment to encourage indigenous students to complete their homework and study effectively.

"A quality education is a critical foundation for enabling all Australians to participate fully in economic and social opportunities in life," said Anthony Albanese.

For more information about the Whole of School Intervention strategy, including a list of successful projects, go to www.dest.gov.au/sectors/Indigenous_education