Savings Finder tool is the one-stop-shop to help NT families save

A ‘savings finder’ will help families access any financial assistance they may be eligible for. Find out what the online portal does.

The steadily increasing cost of living is posing major concerns for Australians, but a new “one-stop-shop” portal could be key to cutting costs and finding savings.

After answering eight simple questions, Territorians can quickly discover whether they’re eligible for rebates on everyday living costs.

You could save up to $1200 per year on electricity, $300 per year on work wear and gear, up to four weeks’ rent as a security deposit, and two weeks’ rent in advance.

Programs and concession schemes are also available for vehicle registration and utility bills, and Territorians can access a separate portal to find the cheapest fuel prices near them.

Fee-free TAFE and VET courses are also available, as well as up to $5000 per year for recent Year 12 graduates enrolled in their first degree.

NT Swim School director Hollie Goodall said the portal helped parents access sports vouchers, which can be used to access discounted sporting services for kids.

Ms Goodall said families “down south” might pay $25 for a swimming lesson.

“If you utilise the vouchers correctly up here, it’s $15, so it’s a lot more affordable,” she said.

Ms Goodall said it could be difficult to navigate government websites in order to find grants, rebates and vouchers.

“To be able to go onto the one site and put in your details and find exactly what you need straightaway, it’s going to be so much easier,” she said.

“We’re a very multicultural society up here, so quite often for us trying to explain to new families arriving in the Territory whose English may not also be that wonderful, it’d be a lot easier for them to follow the step by step guide.”

There were 5827 learn-to-swim vouchers and 29,715 sport vouchers redeemed across the NT in 2022.

Corporate and Digital Development Minister Ngaree Ah Kit said the portal was easy to use on a phone. Picture Glenn Campbell

Corporate and Digital Development Minister Ngaree Ah Kit said savings and rebates were searchable by topic as well as by demographic and interest.

“The best thing about that is that their search is accompanied by a link and that link can be saved for future reference,” she said.

“Or, they (Territorians) might know people in the same boat and they can share the reference with other people and they can view what’s available.”

The portal was built in-house by the Corporate and Digital Development Department, and did not cost anything to create.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the portal would help Territorians navigate cost of living pressures. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said there were “hundreds of dollars worth of savings” on offer each year for Territorians and their families.

“The Savings Finder tool has been created as a central location for individuals to clearly see what savings they have available to them to help with cost of living pressures,” she said.

“Savings are provided to families, seniors, homebuyers and individuals in areas including education and training; health; power and water bills; transport; renting, buying or owning a home and support for seniors, Territorians with a disability and carers.”

There are almost 50 opportunities to save money highlighted in the Savings Finder tool.

Anyone can access the online portal at nt.gov.au/savings-finder.

Originally published as Savings Finder tool is the one-stop-shop to help NT families save