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 has announced 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".
Over 53 occupations have been listed as a high priority - including accountants, software engineers, mechanical engineers and chefs.
Aerial Shot of Darwin City, Darwin. Source: Wikimedia Commons/David Silva/CC BY-SA 1.0
“$7250 for singles and $15000 for families on offer”
The cash 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.
After five years in the Territory, families will receive another $7000 retention bonus, singles and couples will receive $3000 and $6000 respectively.
“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 government has announced.
‘Welcome to the Territory’ incentives are part of the Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy 2018 to 2028.
If you are interested in location to the Northern Territory, here are five must-know details about the program:
1. The incentives will target early career females (aged 20 to 39 years) and late-career workers (aged 55 to 65 years) in high priority occupations as defined on the 
2. Senior management, as well as entry-level roles, are included on the priority list across a range of industry sectors that include pastoralism and agriculture, finance, construction, engineering, aviation, human resources, IT and hospitality. Check the full list .
3. To be eligible, applicants must secure a job in the Territory for a minimum of 12 months and have not lived in the Territory during the two years preceding the date of application.
4. Jobs with the Northern Territory Public Sector and self-employed and entrepreneurs starting a new business are not eligible for the program. The incentives are only available to Australian citizens or permanent residents.
5. Full program details will be released on 1 October 2018, with the grant applications opening from 1 November 2018.
Source: pexels
Source: pexels
A view across the Darwin Waterfront from the top floor of Medina Grand Apartments is too magnificent to stay inside. Source: AAP Image/Tourism NT
John Lai and his two children, who officially became Australian citizens earlier this month Source: Supplied
Businesses in the region that are unable to fill positions on the high priority list with a local person will be able to register for the program and extend their search interstate. If they find a suitable candidate who meets the program criteria, the incentives may apply once that person has been hired and relocated, the announcement said.
The Northern Territory’s Chief Minister said the NT’s Population Growth Strategy was also targeting former Territorian expats now living outside the NT.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner Source: SBS
“Territory expats now living elsewhere are an enormous pool of potential returning Territorians and advocates for the Territory,” Mr Gunner said.
“Our research shows that almost half of the people who left the Territory stayed longer than they anticipated and the great majority are satisfied with their time here.
"Around one-third say, they are likely to come back at some stage.
“Through the program, the Territory will identify and keep in touch with its former residents, seek feedback on a wide range of issues, and keep them informed about the latest Territory employment, investment and travel opportunities.”
