$15,000 on offer for families willing to move to the Northern Territory

Over 53 occupations have been listed as high priority - including accountants, software engineers, mechanical engineers and chefs.

Darwin

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Northern Territory wants more people to come and live up north and is offering cash incentives to families, couples and individuals willing to do so.

The government says it will invest $9.3 million to attract more people, including migrants, to the Territory with families being  offered more than $15,000 over five years to move to NT to work in "high priority jobs".

This announcement is part of the Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy 2018-2028, where the government hopes to add 21,000 new jobs and $10.4 billion to the NT’s economy in the next decade.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner Source: AAP
The incentives include relocation costs, one-off local spending benefit and retention bonus and will be made available to individuals, couples and families willing to move to NT.

Singles will receive $3000, couples will receive $6000 and families will receive $7000 as a relocation bonus.

The one-off local spending benefit of $1250 will be offered after six months of living in the NT which may be used towards costs incurred within the Territory, including vehicle registration, child care and eating out.
Darwin harbour
Darwin habour Source: wikimedia commons
After five years in the Territory, families will receive another $7000 retention bonus, Singles and couples will receive $3000 and $6000 respectively.

"Just about every regional centre in Australia is trying to grow their population. It's a national trend," Chief Minister Michael Gunner .

“From November 2018, people who migrate to the Northern Territory from interstate and enter listed on the Northern Territory Skilled Occupation Priority List will be eligible for these incentives,” the strategy says.

“NT wants accountants, engineers, chefs”

Over 53 occupations have been listed as high priority occupations and it includes accountants, hotel managers, software engineers and mechanical engineers.

High priority occupations

ANZSCO codeOccupationANZSCO skill level
111111Chief Executive or Managing Director1
121111Aquaculture Farmer1
121312Beef Cattle Farmer1
131112Sales and Marketing Manager1
132211Finance Manager1
133111Construction Project Manager1
133211Engineering Manager1
133513Production Manager (Mining)1
135111Chief Information Officer1
135112ICT Project Manager1
139911Arts Administrator or Manager1
139912Environmental Manager1
141311Hotel or Motel Manager2
142111Retail Manager (General)2
2211*Accountants1
221213External Auditor1
223111Human Resource Adviser1
223311Training and Development Professional1
224611Librarian1
231111Aeroplane Pilot1
231212Ship's Engineer1
231213Ship's Master1
231214Ship's Officer1
233411Electronics Engineer1
233512Mechanical Engineer1
241111Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher1
242111University Lecturer1
242211Vocational Education Teacher1
251513Retail Pharmacist1
253111General Practitioner1
2611*ICT Business and Systems Analysts1
261313Software Engineer1
2621*Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists1
312113Building Inspector2
3131*ICT Support Technicians2
321211Motor Mechanic (General)3
323211Fitter (General)3
334111Plumber (General)3
341111Electrician (General)3
342111Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic3
351311Chef2
351411Cook (includes Ethnic Cuisine)3
391111Hairdresser3
394111Cabinetmaker3
411511Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker2
411711Community Worker2
411712Disabilities Services Officer2
411714Parole or Probation Officer2
421111Child Care Worker4
423111Aged or Disabled Carer4
423313Personal Care Assistant4
612112Property Manager3
721311Forklift Driver4
* Four digit ANZSCO Unit Group code incorporates occupations within this group. Example ANZSCO Unit Group code 2544 - Registered Nurses has 13 individual occupations within the next level.

Source: NT Department of Trade Business and Innovation.
In addition, the Northern Territory Government will also negotiate a refreshed Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA II) with the Commonwealth Government to allow Territory employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers in areas experiencing skill and labour shortages.

“Arresting population decline and boosting economy”

The strategy mentions research conducted by the Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute which found five years is the tipping point after which new residents are most likely to remain long-term.

Forecasts show the Territory’s population is likely to fall by 0.7 per cent this financial year.

This population plan aims to arrest that decline and return growth to its historical average of 1.4 per cent.

If this growth is achieved, Mr Gunner said it would add about 21,000 jobs and more than $10 billion to the economy over the next decade.

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4 min read
Published 22 August 2018 4:53pm
Updated 23 August 2018 9:04am
By Mosiqi Acharya

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