Only 15 people in the NT have successfully applied for the 'Welcome to the Territory' bonus, which aims to make relocating a little easier.

​The government's investment of $19 million in the initiative is counting on enticing 2600 people here, to boost the Top End's declining population and help add $10.4 billion to the economy.

Previously caught up in the daily grind of city life in Sydney, Ms Cottrill moved to Katherine with her partner earlier this year. 

The seed sof moving had already been planted, but the $5000 bonus was enough of a nudge to make the plans concrete. 

"We were both applying for jobs and a friend at my previous workplace in Sydney, who was also planning to move to the NT, highlighted the incentive," Ms Cottrill said. 

"It wasn't my number one motivation, but the additional support definitely helped the decision making," she said. 

The 26-year-old applied for a role on the Skilled Occupation Priority List, working in remote communities with an Indigenous Health Service, and after a lot of research and hoop jumping found she and her partner fit the criteria. 

While specific details about the application were not easily available, she persevered.

"In all honesty, it was quiet hard to figure out and details were limited. When I called around it was hard to get specific information," she said. 

"There was a lot of chasing with it being so new."

The couple had to produce a statute declaration proving their relationship and utility bills proving residency in New South Wales. 

All of this had to be organised while packing up house and making sure job offers were secured. 

"There were two stages of process. First was proving residency other than the NT and that I had a job offer from the priority list, and the second was proving I had actually moved," she said. 

Ms Cottrill and her partner received the lump sum in their bank account "quite quickly", and will be putting it to good use setting up a new home far away from what is familiar. 

Already the benefits of the move are becoming apparent. 

She said her and her partner are loving the work life balance that comes with the laid back Territory lifestyle. 

"We were both doing long hours in the city, and now all of a sudden I find I have time to watch the sunset in the afternoons or go on adventures on the weekend. 

"There have been opportunities to do diverse work and I feel like I will be able to get ahead faster in my career than if I had stayed in Sydney. 

"Having limited experience working in remote communities and having the opportunity has been a privilege I wouldn't have had.  

"We are both also getting to know the truths of the country I wouldn't have seen in my city bubble - social issues, inequalities and the lack of resources. 

"I have been posting job adds to my friends so they get the hint that they should make the move too." 

The Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy 2018 – 2028, aims to create 21,000 jobs over the next 10 years. 

The strategy aims to help Territory businesses attract workers into hard to fill jobs and is available to women aged between 20 and 39 years, and people aged between 55 and 65 years, who apply for jobs on the high priority list.

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