Need a change? Gov offers cash incentives to move to the NT

‘Welcome to the Territory’ payments are being offered across seven years.

NT Goverment

‘Welcome to the Territory’ payments are being offered across seven years.

Financial incentives of up to $15,000 are enticing eligible singles and families to move interstate to take up exciting job opportunities and a lifestyle adventure in Australia’s Northern Territory.‘Welcome to the Territory’ payments are being offered across a seven-year program to boost and retain the Territory population by attracting interstate workers across high priority occupations that are hard to fill in the Territory, including chefs, sales managers, airline pilots and finance managers.The incentive payments are being offered by the Northern Territory Government to stimulate economic growth across an area that encompasses 17.5% of the Australian landmass but home to just one per cent of the population.In addition to an initial relocation payment, a local spending bonus will be offered after six months in the NT, and a retention bonus for these new Territorians on their fifth anniversary.Ian Satchwell, the Executive Director of the Northern Territory Government’s Economic and Environmental Policy, said most Australians are unaware of the significant jobs on offer and the enviable, warm all-year round lifestyle enjoyed by Territory residents.“The Northern Territory is already home to people from across Australia and the world and we welcome anyone looking for new opportunities and a vibrant community to call home,” Mr Satchwell said.“We may be sparsely populated but we live in an incredibly beautiful and highly liveable part of Australia and we are searching for more people to join us so they can apply their skills to making the most of what the Territory can be."As part of the plan, the Territory hopes to attract an additional 2600 people over a period of 2 years to restore population movement to its preferred long-run average of 1.4 per cent growth per annum.Under the innovative Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy launched in August 2018, the payments for the New Territorian and 5 Year Retention Bonus will be scaled for Singles ($3000), Couples ($6000) and Families ($7000).Mr Satchwell said population cohorts being targeted include early career females (aged 20-39 years) and late career workers (aged 55-65 years) in high priority occupations as defined on the NT Skilled Occupation Priority List.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.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.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.The Northern Territory’s Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the NT’s Population Growth Strategy was also targeting former Territorian expats now living outside the NT.“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.”Full program details will be released on 1 October 2018, with the grant applications opening from 1 November 2018. If you're interested in knowing more about moving to Australia’s best kept secret then register today.

Originally published as Need a change? Gov offers cash incentives to move to the NT