9 August 2025
In its year of action, certainty and security, the Finocchiaro CLP Government is batting big - using cricket to attract South African students to the Northern Territory.
International cricket returns to Darwin for the first time in 17 years with the Australian men's team set to take on South Africa in two T20 Internationals at Marrara Stadium on Sunday and Tuesday.
Study NT's latest marketing campaign will leverage the power of cricket and raise awareness of the Northern Territory as a preferred international study destination for South Africans students.
The campaign will run both on the ground at the stadium and through digital advertising targeting audiences in South Africa.
Minister for International Education, Migration and Population, Robyn Cahill, said the campaign signalled the Northern Territory is open for business.
"International sports events, such as the T20 cricket in Darwin, highlight the important role sport can play in opening doors, unlocking business opportunities and driving economic growth.
"The international education sector is a vital part of our Rebuilding the Economy Strategy 2025, and key to making the Territory the best place to study, live, work, and invest.
"Hosting major international sports events like the T20 cricket attracts thousands of spectators, boosts our tourism and hospitality sectors, and helps rebuild our economy," said Ms Cahill.
International students play a critical role in the Northern Territory's economy and workforce. According to Ernst & Young's analysis, each international student contributed an average of $41,841 annually to the Territory's economy in 2023.
The international education sector is the NT's second largest services export and the sixth largest revenue sector. In 2023 alone, the industry generated $236.5 million in export revenue and supported more than 1,300 jobs.
Australia is home to one of the largest South African communities abroad, with approximately 214,790 South Africans living in the country, including around 949 living in the Territory.
The CLP Government has identified South Africa as a key target market for both international students and skilled workers. A 2024 Universities Australia report supports this focus, identifying South Africa as a major source of students by 2050.
As of December 2024, more than 5,500 international students were enrolled across 20+ international education and training providers in the NT.
Watch a video of the new campaign here here.
