Empowering International Medical Graduates to Practice in Australia  

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Doctor-to-Doctor Mentoring for IMGs Aspiring to Work in Australia

Real guidance. Real experience. No recruitment agenda.
Doctor Down Under is a mentoring service created by a doctor, for doctors — designed to help International Medical Graduates (IMGs) understand, navigate, and succeed in the Australian medical system.

Whether you are still deciding if Australia is the right move, preparing for the AMC exams, or actively applying for hospital or GP roles, you don't have to navigate the process alone.
  • Personalised Mentoring
  • CV Optimisation
  • Interview Preparation
  • Open-Ended Mentoring Discussions (Topics you won't find online)
What is Doctor Down Under?

Doctor Down Under is not a recruitment agency. It is not a hiring service.

It is a mentoring platform led by an IMG doctor who has personally gone through the Australian medical journey — from AMC exams to hospital work, GP training, and Fellowship.

The goal is simple: to give IMGs honest, practical, doctor-to-doctor guidance that you will not get from recruiters, migration agents, or agencies that are not medically trained.
11,000+
Filipino Doctors
Community Members
300+
Doctors Successfully
Mentored
8+Years
of Australian
Medical Experience

Services for Your Success

Every service is designed to address the specific challenges IMGs face when transitioning to the Australian healthcare system.

Meet Dr. Nicole Taleon

“From IMG to successful Australian doctor — I understand your journey because I’ve walked it myself.”

Dr. Nicole Taleon, MD, MBA, FRACGP
Your Mentor & Guide

About Me

Dr. Nicole completed her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration in 2013 at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Philippines. She then worked as a locum General Practitioner in the Philippines, gaining broad clinical experience early in her career. She passed AMC Part 1 in 2016 and AMC Part 2 in 2017, both on her first attempt, and successfully secured an Australian hospital job within four months of passing AMC Part 2.

In 2018, Nicole began working at Gosford Hospital, NSW — initially as a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) and later progressing to Senior Resident Medical Officer (SRMO) roles. Her time working in the Australian public hospital system gave her firsthand insight into hospital recruitment, workforce expectations, and the realities of working as an IMG doctor in Australia.

In 2021, Nicole entered General Practice training through the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), completing her training between 2021 and 2024, and achieving Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) in 2025. She now works as a full-time GP in the Sunshine Coast, alongside her ongoing mentoring and teaching work for International Medical Graduates.

GP Fellow

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Passionate Mentor

Admin to Filipino Doctors To/In/For Australia with 11,000 Members

Board-Certified Medical Practitioner

Medical Board of Australia

Advanced Certificate

Skin Cancer Medicine

My Mentoring Journey

Dr. Nicole began mentoring overseas-trained doctors in 2018, at a time when many international medical graduates were struggling to find clear, reliable guidance on how to work as doctors in Australia.

While navigating the Australian medical system herself, she started answering questions and offering informal advice to fellow IMGs — particularly Filipino doctors — through online forums and Facebook groups. It quickly became clear that many doctors were facing the same challenges and uncertainties and were seeking guidance from someone who had personally gone through the process, rather than from recruitment agencies or non-medical advisers.

Together with a fellow Filipino IMG colleague, Dr. Mark, Dr. Nicole co-founded a small private Facebook group initially made up of just five doctors who wanted close mentorship and practical, experience-based guidance. Through word of mouth within the Filipino medical community, the group grew organically. By 2026, it had expanded into a supportive community of over 11,000 members, all helping one another navigate the Australian healthcare system.

As demand increased, Dr. Nicole’s mentoring evolved from one-on-one coaching into group mentoring and live Zoom sessions. Over time, it became clear that the same core questions and lessons were being requested repeatedly, and that live sessions alone were no longer sustainable.

To make this guidance accessible without limitations of time, location, or capacity, the on-demand course was created — allowing international medical graduates anywhere in the world to access the same proven, doctor-to-doctor guidance anytime, at their own pace.

This mentoring work is driven by a genuine desire to help doctors make informed decisions, strengthen their applications, and navigate the Australian medical system with clarity and confidence — just as Dr. Nicole once had to do herself.

Success Stories from IMGs

Real stories from International Medical Graduates who have successfully transitioned to practicing medicine in Australia.
“I attended Dr. Nik's interview coaching sessions in early 2025. And just to mention, she likewise helped me with my resume. For context, I had been trying for years to get my first doctor's job in Australia and received multiple refusals and "next times". I always thought I could manage without coaching but I was wrong.

One thing I learned with the Australian system is they do it their way, there is a typical "Aussie way" or in the Australian context so to speak. If you hit that nerve, you increase your chances of getting hired. Nik very clearly, taught these in her mentoring. Where you end up is the testament to her guidance.

I now work with SA Health in the Flinders Upper North Region. This is only the start but as they say, get one foot in the door and work your way to your dreams.

Thanks Dr. Nik, may you always have that availability to mentor fellow IMG's.​”
Dr. K
Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network
“Dr. Nik-Tal’s session on CV writing and interview coaching was incredibly helpful and played a big role in helping me land a job in Perth. The CV writing session gave clear, practical guidance on presenting my experience effectively within the Australian healthcare system.

The interview coaching was very straightforward and easy to follow. It gave me a clear structure and confidence on how to answer interview questions the Australian healthcare system way, which made a huge difference during my actual interview.

I highly recommend Dr. Nik-Tal’s CV and interview coaching sessions to anyone aiming to work in Australia—they are practical, targeted, and truly effective.”
Dr. Kristina TG
RMO, Murdoch, Western Australia
“I am very grateful to have had Nik Tal as my mentor throughout my journey to becoming a doctor in Australia. I first heard her speak in Manila about practicing in Australia, and that talk really inspired me to give it a try. At the time, it felt daunting, but her story made it feel possible.

From there, Nik supported me every step of the way. She helped me understand the process, guided me in writing a clear and professional CV, and spent time coaching me for interviews. She prepared me for my only interview with NALHN, helping me organise my answers and build confidence. I passed that interview and am now working as a Resident Medical Officer at NALHN in Adelaide, which I truly believe would not have happened without her guidance.

More than the practical help, Nik was there for me during times when I felt stuck and discouraged, especially when I saw my batchmates moving forward while I felt delayed by the Australian process. She helped me stay focused, reminded me that everyone’s journey is different, and encouraged me not to give up.

Nik is not just a mentor but someone who genuinely cares about the people she helps. I am deeply thankful for her support, guidance, and encouragement, and I would highly recommend her to anyone considering the path to practicing medicine in Australia.”
Dr. Jeune M
RMO, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
“I attended Doc Nik’s CV coaching session in May 2025. I passed the AMC Part 1 in December 2023, and since then I had been actively applying for jobs in Australia. Despite numerous applications, I never received a single interview.

To be completely honest, I initially hesitated to enrol in Doc Nik’s class—I was reluctant and kept thinking twice about spending on it, even though her session is actually very reasonably priced. By the end of 2024, I had already given up and decided to just focus on AMC Part 2 and look for opportunities later. However, I eventually thought, I’ll still be applying to Australia anyway, so I decided to give her class a try.

The session was short but very concise, detailed, and extremely helpful. It made me realize that my CV was honestly not good at all—and that it could very well be the reason why I had never landed an interview. Doc Nik answered all our questions thoroughly and made sure that the strategies she taught would actually work for us.

What stood out the most was how she taught us to write our CV from the employer’s perspective. She guided us on using the right words so employers could clearly visualize our experience. Instead of bombarding us with advice to accumulate CPD Australia units, she emphasized something far more important—highlighting our actual experience as hospitalists or physicians in the Philippines, which truly matters to Australian hospitals.

After submitting my revised CV, I didn’t even reach 100 applications—less than 50, actually (haha)—and I already received a job interview. Surprisingly, it was for a specialization I did not expect, but one that I genuinely wanted.

I even got an interview during the campaign period, which makes this even more remarkable. All I can say is that Doc Nik is absolutely worth the shot. I have already lodged my visa and, hopefully, I’ll be in Australia by the first quarter of 2026.

Kudos to Doc Nik—this was truly a game-changer for me.”
Dr. M M
Surgery RMO, Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
“I thought I was doing well in my interviews until I attended one of Dr. Nik’s interview coaching sessions. She provided invaluable guidance, helping us prepare thoroughly and equipping us with effective strategies to answer each question clearly and confidently. Her sessions truly elevated my interview performance.”
Dr. Vince C
Hunter New England Local Health District, NSW
“I highly recommend all of Dr. Nik’s workshops. I completed the CV writing and selection criteria workshops, and even though I did not yet have an interview scheduled, I also undertook the interview coaching. I knew there was a strong possibility I might only receive one interview, and that my performance would be “make or break.”

When that fateful day finally came, I applied all the insights and strategies Dr. Nik shared during her coaching sessions. They were invaluable and crucial in helping me nail my interview. I secured my current role after just one interview, thanks to Dr. Nik. I could not have done it without her guidance and support.

Thank you so much, Dr. Nik!”
Dr. J Ong
RMO, Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia
“I attended all of Dr Nik’s courses, including CV and cover letter writing as well as interview preparation, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She took the time to go through my CV thoroughly, pointing out, one by one, which areas needed to be expanded, clarified, or better presented. This significantly strengthened my application.

During my interview preparation, Dr Nik taught a clear, structured, and high-yield approach to tackling both clinical and non-clinical cases. Her guidance made complex scenarios feel simple and manageable. As a result, my two interviews went very smoothly, and I felt confident throughout. I am extremely grateful to Dr Nik for her support and mentorship, and I would confidently recommend her to all IMGs preparing for applications and interviews.

She is always just one message away and very easy to contact.”
Dr. A A
RMO, Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia
“I am a PGY-5 doctor here in the Philippines, and I wanted to turn my career around. I was seeking an opportunity to achieve a career with a better work–life balance, and I learned about Australia through my fellow Filipino physicians. Initially, I was lost on how to start my journey, but I came across a Facebook group where Doc Nik was very active. Doc Nik gave me the confidence boost I needed to start my applications and eventually land a job interview.

Her CV writing seminar was high-yield. In fact, I applied to only one hospital and simply followed Doc Nik’s method—and guess what? I got an interview invite!

Of course, I then joined Doc Nik’s interview coaching and applied her techniques. This taught me how to approach symptoms systematically, resulting in a confident interview and, ultimately, a job offer.

Applying for a job and attending interviews can be nerve-wracking, but gaining the appropriate knowledge helps you face the process with confidence and courage.

Always grateful to Dr Nik!”
Dr. C B
RMO, Gosford Hospital, NSW

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