I don't think it's non-negotiable to have contacts in the NT, but it certainly helps your case if you can prove you have ties to the Northern Territory. I personally have two friends who live in Darwin so I included them in my application (however they were not contacted by the NT government for confirmation). I think the most important component of the application is the commitment letter. I did A LOT of research on the NT and wrote a very passionate letter about why I think Darwin would be the best place for me to live in Australia. I edited it like crazy until I thought it was perfect and I was offered sponsorship even without a solid job offer (I'm a primary school teacher so it says right on the list that I'm required to have a job offer). I emailed schools who said they'd be happy to offer me casual work upon arrival, but I don't have a contract. Put effort into your application, contact employers and send proof of that, and convince them that you really want to live in the NT and you should be okay .