This CAEPR Topical Issue contains the collected works of academics engaged in the examination of The Forrest review: creating parity which was commissioned by the Prime Minister Tony Abbott to examine Indigenous training and employment in Australia. Each work represents the author's considered specialist disciplinary perspective informed by on-the-ground experience. Consequently, this paper provides an overview of the issues and challenges identified by academics as needing to be addressed when thinking about the recommendations of the Forrest Review and the impact they could have on people's lives if implemented.​

This paper provides an overview of a range of issues, shortcomings and challenges identified by individual scholars as requiring urgent attention. A number of submissions highlight the unintended consequences and negative impacts on the lives of relatively vulnerable people that might result from blanket implementation of recommendations in the Forrest Review.

The submissions in this paper are arranged by thematic focus to best reflect the key emphasis and subject matter of each submission. Thematic areas include the overall direction of the Review, the methodology used, employment and training issues, income management, governance and community engagement, education and remote development.