Incentives and benefits on offer to entice workers to the Northern Territory

As part of the NT News’ Future NT campaign, we’ve put together a list of incentives available to lure overseas and interstate workers to the Territory. Here’s what’s on offer.

Is there a more Territorian experience than having a frothy at a beachside Darwin bar during sundown?

The Top End’s status as a tourist hotspot means there is an ample selection of bars and restaurants but enough staff to ride the seasonal highs and lows is another story.

In fact, workforce shortages have been crippling a whole range of NT industries, from health to agriculture, trades to teaching.

Business, Jobs and Training Minister Paul Kirby says the shortages have also coincided with the strongest pipeline of private investment the Territory has seen in years.

Business, Jobs and Training Minister Paul Kirby says there will be a series of announcements in coming weeks on filling workforce shortages. Picture: Floss Adams

“Our biggest barrier is finding the people to power these projects in the face of a global worker shortage,” Mr Kirby said.

“To reach our $40 billion economy by 2030, we need to grow our workforce by 31,000 which is why worker attraction is my highest priority.”

In a bid to bridge the gap locals cannot fill alone, the NT government this year announced a $12.8m workforce boost package.

The package also aims to entice overseas and interstate workers with some lucrative incentives. Here are some of the benefits on offer.

The NT government is spending $200,000 to send a delegation to the UK in February to attract more than 100 skilled hospitality workers. Picture: Glenn Campbell

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

NT businesses can list their short-term positions for free on The Job Shack website, while workers that take up one of the advertised jobs receive a $500 voucher to spend on local tourism experiences through the Work Hard, Play Hard campaign.

Alongside tourism and hospitality staff, a $1000 payment is on offer to workers in industries with critical skill shortages such as construction, aged care and retail.

Businesses can apply for up to 20 eligible, recently-relocated workers and are responsible for passing on the Work, Stay, Play bonus to the employee.

More than 800 Commonwealth-supported teaching, nursing and engineering places have been allocated to Charles Darwin University in the next two years. Picture: Brian Cassey

TEACHERS

Various incentives are on offer to Territory educators, new and existing, including rental concessions, fortnightly remote incentive allowances, free airfares out of isolated communities and remote retention payments.

Prospective teachers to the NT can fill out an online calculator on the Teach in the Territory website to see what they are eligible for.

Extra funding commitments have recently been announced for Katherine teachers, including an annual $3500 retention payment and 15 fortnights of relocation allowance.

About 170 graduate nurses and midwives started employment with NT Health this year. Picture: Glenn Campbell

HEALTH

Payments of up to $10,500 are on offer to general practitioners and other medical staff working in Australia’s rural and remote areas, as part of Labor’s new federal budget.

In terms of Territory-specific incentives, there a range of employed model programs that allow nurses and midwives to upskill and get paid for it.

The programs run from one to two years and cover specialised areas like emergency nursing, mental health and intensive care.

Pacific workers play an important role in filling seasonal jobs at Top End mango farms. Picture: Supplied

OVERSEAS WORKERS

Recent red tape changes are allowing migrants a more flexible pathway to permanent residency through a five-year skilled regional visa, while eligibility criteria has expanded.

The agreement applies to more than 120 occupations, including those in agriculture, telecommunications, health and many trades.

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme also allows Territory businesses to recruit seasonal workers in unskilled to semi-skilled positions.

There are currently 828 workers in the NT spread across agriculture, tourism, hospitality and other industries through the scheme.

A low rental vacancy rate, which results in high asking rents, pose a significant challenge to attracting workers to the Top End. Picture: HubCo Darwin

RENTERS

Workers in high priority industries like education, health, tourism, hospitality, transport and logistics, among many others, may be eligible for rental reductions of up to 30 per cent.

The Rent Choice scheme is available to a capped number of workers in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs who have a single income of less than $100,000, or a dual income of less than $122,100.

Upon securing a rental property of their choice, the tenant’s subsidy is paid directly to the real estate agent.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says more workers are needed to support an economy “going in the right direction”. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Another incentive that draws interstate and overseas workers alike to the Territory is our usually higher than average salaries.

The NT has the second highest median weekly wage at $1,342, the latest ABS data shows.

This is more than $300 higher than Tasmania and $200 higher than South Australia.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says the Territory is “bursting with opportunity”.

“We will always look at innovative ways to adapt programs we have underway to make a difference to locals and fill gaps where we can,” Ms Fyles said.

“The international students RSA program is a clear example of this.

“There are now an extra 130 hospitality staff members in our venues.

“We are also giving Territorians and others 55 years and older the opportunity to learn a new skill in our aged care sector.”

The NT News’ Future NT event on Friday, November 25 will explore how the government achieves a $40bn economy by 2030. Buy your tickets here.

Originally published as Incentives and benefits on offer to entice workers to the Northern Territory