Unexpected career opportunities in the Northern Territory
A move to the Northern Territory transformed South African vet Dr Storm Scheepers' career in ways he never anticipated.
Two months after arriving in the Northern Territory, vet Storm Scheepers was knee-deep in water, rescuing animals caught up in the Katherine floods.
The Top End town suffered its worst flooding in 28 years in March 2026, with the Katherine River peaking at 19.2 m, causing widespread damage and triggering emergency evacuations.
As the NT Government’s Regional Veterinary Officer, Storm was dispatched to the nearby community of Daly River, which was completely flooded.
For the South African-born vet, it was a baptism of fire.
'If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be rescuing dogs in a boat on the Daly River, I would say you’re crazy!' he said.
But Storm said it is one of the things he loves about his job.
'It’s been really awesome,' he said.
'My role for the NT Government is forming part of the Animal Welfare and Biosecurity team so that we can address and attend to any sick animals or disease investigations that may need to be done.'
'Every day you don’t know what you’re going to get. It keeps you on your toes.'
Storm grew up surrounded by animals, describing it as a ‘zoo’ at his Johannesburg home – hamsters, rabbits, chickens, fish and dogs – so it seemed inevitable he would become a vet.
He completed his degree at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, where he worked in welfare and mixed animal practice for a few years before moving to New Zealand to work in private practice with the help of VetPartners, an international organisation that places vets in a range of countries.
But the call of Australia was strong and after 3 years, Storm decided to move across the ditch, securing a 186 permanent residency visa as a skilled worker. He landed in Adelaide, where he counted kangaroos and koalas among his patients.
With a history of working in private practice, Storm then decided on a slight career change and applied for the role of Katherine’s Regional Veterinary Officer with the NT Government.
Moving out of private practice is a decision he has not regretted.
He said the move to the NT and into a government role had broadened his skill base significantly, giving him the chance to not only use his veterinary skills but to improve his governance, policy and administrative skills.
Storm’s advice to other skilled workers thinking of making the Territory home is not to hesitate.
'It’s obviously not Melbourne or Sydney but if you love the outdoors, the slower pace of life, the open, wide spaces and beautiful night skies, then this is the place to be.'
