Adelaide, August 21, 2025 |
What began with just $100 and a laptop during the pandemic has now grown into a six-figure business that is transforming lives. Nepali entrepreneur Nick Shrestha, based in Adelaide, has turned his venture Career Panacea into a platform helping hundreds of international graduates and skilled migrants find meaningful employment.
For his contribution, Shrestha was recognised as a joint-winner in the Private Sector category at the prestigious 2024 Governor’s Multicultural Awards.
From Bhairahawa, Nepal to Adelaide
Born in Bhairahawa, Nepal, where his father served as a government accounts officer and his mother managed the household, Nick grew up as a cricket enthusiast. Though he did not pursue the traditional career paths of medicine or engineering, today he has earned recognition for his entrepreneurial success and community impact — something his parents take pride in.
Arriving in Adelaide in 2013 to pursue a Master of Professional Accounting at UniSA, he quickly adapted to Australian culture, securing jobs in sales and later at Westpac. Cricket, however, was his true connection point to the community, leading him to represent UniSA at the 2014 Australian University Games and later join local cricket associations.
Pandemic Sparked Entrepreneurship
Before 2020, Nick had built a solid career in Adelaide’s finance and banking sector. But when COVID-19 struck while he was in Nepal, he suddenly found himself without work. Rather than giving up, he invested just $100 to launch Career Panacea online.
Using an Australian phone number on roaming and leveraging digital platforms, he began assisting international graduates remotely. The model worked so well that it still forms the backbone of his business today. By 2022, the company was already generating six-figure profits and now operates from an office in Adelaide’s CBD with multiple employees.
Helping Migrants Break Barriers
Career Panacea focuses on helping international graduates and skilled migrants gain local experience, prepare professional resumes, and secure jobs aligned with their qualifications. Shrestha says his biggest satisfaction comes from client success stories — including that of a Burmese migrant battling cancer who, after interning with his firm, secured an accounting role at Deloitte.
“Money matters, but the happiness from seeing someone achieve their dream is worth more,” he says.
Redefining Success After Illness
Just as his business began to thrive, Nick faced a severe health crisis with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and gastritis, which left him unable to work for months. The experience reshaped his philosophy:
“Health is the most underestimated form of wealth,” he says. “Career is not just survival; it’s an introduction to the world. True success is finding purpose and balance in what you do.”
Championing Multiculturalism
Nick is the first Nepali-origin entrepreneur to receive recognition in both the 40 Under 40 Global Business Awards and the Governor’s Multicultural Awards. He believes South Australia’s strength lies in its diversity:
“It’s like a garden of colourful flowers. Each culture adds something unique, and together we create better ideas, stronger problem-solving, and greater harmony.”
Call for 2025 Award Nominations
Encouraging others to celebrate multicultural contributions, Nick urges the community to nominate deserving individuals for the 2025 Governor’s Multicultural Awards, open across 10 categories until Sunday, September 28.
“Recognition is not just about a trophy — it’s encouragement to keep making an impact,” he says.
You can nominate through this link
