This review chaired by Andrew Forrest, Chairman of Fortescue Metals Group and the Minderoo Foundation, presents recommendations intended to help end the disparity between first Australians and other Australians.

It is time to end the disparity between our first Australians and other Australians. Jobs give individuals the opportunity to choose circumstances, to take control of their lives and to provide for their own and their children’s future. This preserves Indigenous culture and ensures its relevance for future generations.

Ending the disparity has defeated successive well-intentioned governments of every political persuasion at the Commonwealth, state and territory levels for decades. Progress has been made in some areas, but most concerning is the growing gap in employment outcomes. Education and employment have the capacity to end the disparity, but a massive 30 point gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and other Australians exists despite the tens of billions of dollars spent by governments to address Indigenous disadvantage.

Almost half of our first Australians have already stepped up and are not disadvantaged. They enjoy strong family lives and are living proof that the disparity can end. They lead successful lives and have successful careers. They receive a good education, are employed, pay taxes and support their families. They are succeeding because of education and employment.

• At the highest levels of education there is no gap between the employment rate of first Australians and other Australians. In fact, first Australian women with a degree have higher employment rates than their counterparts.
• The number of Indigenous students in higher education has increased steadily. Between 2003and 2012 the total number of Indigenous students enrolled in higher education increased by more than 40%.
• Indigenous women account for almost two-thirds of the total number of Indigenous higher education students.
• The Indigenous Home Ownership Programme has generated $1.9 billion in wealth to first Australians who now own their own homes.

We have failed so far because there is:

• a reliance by governments on more public servants and service providers to make the necessary changes rather than empowering first Australians themselves
• a lack of coordination and collaboration in Commonwealth and state and territory policies and programmes and how they are implemented
• an almost exclusive focus by governments on treating the symptoms of entrenched disadvantage, rather than preventing it, so success is limited and very expensive
• drawn-out approaches, such as targets to only halve employment disparity, therefore extending the trajectory of cost, lost opportunity and misery to individuals and to the country
• a lack of accountability for results, with service delivery and welfare systems that entrench passive income lifestyles for providers and recipients.

The recommendations in this report represent an interdependent and comprehensive package of measures. If implemented, they will prepare those who are capable but lack the necessary skills and motivation with the training to enter the workforce. They will create opportunities, engage and provide incentives for first Australians, prevent disadvantage by initiating intensive early childhood development and education, and support the most vulnerable to make sound life choices and manage their finances. They will provide strong incentives recognising that only first Australians themselves can make the necessary lifestyle changes, and only employers and the market can deliver real jobs.