Come for the job, stay for the lifestyle
Drawn to the Northern Territory by the prospect of work, social worker Catherine San Martin discovered that Tennant Creek offered far more than a career – it offered a home.
Tennant Creek has a population of just over 3,000 and is 500 kilometres from the next major town, Alice Springs.
Its remoteness and size would put off some people, but not social worker Catherine San Martin.
'It's been the place where I have found home,' she said.
'Coming to the Northern Territory, I feel settled.
'I feel like I found my people, my community.
'There are also many opportunities here in terms of work. Professionally I've been able to develop myself in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to anywhere else.'
Catherine’s parents are originally from Chile, but moved to South Africa where she was brought up.
She lived in Vanderbijlpark within the Vaal Triangle, 60 km south of Johannesburg, and went to university in Pretoria.
After graduating, Catherine struggled to find work as a social worker in her home country.
She briefly considered that her prospects might improve in Canada, but was drawn to Australia where she arrived in Victoria on a Working Holiday visa in 2020.
The ravages of COVID and her curiosity about the Northern Territory prompted Catherine to travel to Tennant Creek, where she began work as a barista in 2022.
She soon discovered social workers are in high demand in the region and it wasn’t long before Catherine started working with Child Protection Services in the NT Government. She now works for the Department of Corrections.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs has identified social work as an occupation with a shortage of practitioners in the country.
Social work is also listed on the NT Government’s Designated Area Migration Agreement occupations list. The NT Government actively supports qualified individuals on the list to stay and work.
In October 2024, Migration NT within the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations, nominated Catherine for a Skilled (subclass 190) visa. She underwent a skills assessment and in early 2025 was granted a visa. The visa allows Catherine to remain in Australia for 3 years. After that time, she becomes eligible for permanent residency.
Permanent residency is likely to see Catherine remain in Tennant Creek.
'I really like it here,' she said.
'There are many opportunities to grow my profession, but also just to be part of the community.'
Catherine has embraced her new home. She is a volunteer firefighter, was part of the movement to set up a park run in the town and is the president of athletics within the community.
'I'm always finding things to do. I'm never bored here,' she said
'People look out for each other, so there is a sense of community and people look out for each other in terms of isolation. People want to make community here, so people are very open, very welcoming.'
