NT study tour applications close on 19 October for Year 9 students

Up to eight Northern Territory students could visit Okinawa in June 2027. Applicants need guardian permission and must cover passport costs.

issue.red Published 19 Oct 2026, 07:32 1 min read

Editorial collage for Northern Territory students with an archival Darwin skyline and illustrative notebook drawings. — AI editorial collage incorporating “Darwin skyline in November 2008” by kenhodge13, photographed 29 November 2008, via Wikimedia Commons/Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Photograph modified and blended into the collage; archival NT context, not Okinawa or the 2027 tour. Charcoal drawings are illustrative. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darwin_skyline_in_November_2008.jpg · Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Northern Territory Year 9 students have until 19 October 2026 to apply for the Chief Minister’s Study Tour to Okinawa, Japan. The government’s submission portal lists a 7pm closing time.

DefenceNT is seeking up to eight students for an expected eight-day program during the June 2027 school holidays. The final itinerary remains subject to change.

Check eligibility and costs

Applicants must be in Year 9 in the NT in 2026 and have parent or guardian permission. Although the tour is funded, the portal says students must hold, or obtain, a suitable passport at their own expense.

Prepare an original entry

Entries should explain an idea or partnership that could strengthen NT ties with Japan and support a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific. Accepted formats include an essay, recorded presentation or website.

Students should read the handbook and its AI requirements before submitting through Have Your Say. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed; applying does not guarantee a place.

The program combines historical visits, cultural exchange and leadership activities, followed by opportunities to share learning with schools and communities.

Sources

2027 Chief Minister’s Study Tour — Northern Territory Government — DefenceNT
Chief Minister’s Study Tour 2027 — applications — Northern Territory Government — Have Your Say