Trent Thompson's epic sea change to Regional Queensland
When Trent Thompson, now a Senior Planner at Veris, saw the opportunity to trade living in a big city for the beautiful tropical coast of the Whitsundays in Queensland, he jumped at the chance.
Trent’s story is just one example of how Veris, a national provider of surveying, digital and spatial and planning services with 18 offices across Australia, can offer professionals the opportunity to experience a new lifestyle living in some unique regional locations.
Trent was working as a planner in Melbourne during its gruelling lockdown last year, when he successfully applied for an advertised position to join Veris as a Senior Planner at its Proserpine office in the Whitsundays.
“From a lifestyle perspective, the idea of being in such an idyllic natural location, where I can get involved in a lot of outdoor activities was very appealing for me.
“There was also the opportunity for career growth, working in a great team, getting to understand how different planning systems work, as well as being part of a large, national business.
When he accepted the role, Veris was able to provide a relocation package and support to Trent to help in making the move North, something that made the transition easier.
“There was obviously some financial support which helped with the move, but at a local level, my supervisor also took the time discuss where might be the best area for me to live in, which has worked out really well.
“I’m now living in Airlie Beach, which is a coastal resort town and the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, and from there it’s a really picturesque drive to the Veris office in Proserpine each day.
The work itself has also been an interesting change for Trent, offering great variety.
“I get to work closely with the Cairns and Mackay offices on a good mix of projects across the region, ranging from rural subdivisions and greenfield estate work, right through to some aquaculture and resources developments, which has been really interesting for me.
“Our Whitsundays office is also involved in projects that include hydrographic surveying, mobile laser scanning and UAV, as well as planning, so I get first hand exposure to our multi-disciplinary service offering and an understanding of how these different elements can come together to add value to our clients.
Outside of work, although only making the move North relatively recently, Trent has already been able to make the most of his new surroundings, and is settling in nicely.
“Over the holidays I was able to go on 3-day kayak with some friends through some of the Whitsunday Islands, which was an amazing experience.
“Making the move, it has certainly been a big change to living in a fast-paced, big city like Melbourne, and I’m really looking forward to what the future may hold.”
Interested in a career at Veris at one of our regional locations? Visit our careers page to find your next opportunity.