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    TAFE NSW Ultimo | 28 October 2026

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    Ipswich dad trades carpentry for a career in building design

    ‘I love being an architectural draftsman. There’s so much satisfaction in visualising something, designing it and seeing it come to fruition.’

    Dan Smith, TAFE NSW building design student

    TAFE NSW is helping train the next generation of building designers. These workers help turn ideas into homes and other buildings. One of them is Ipswich dad, Dan Smith. He studied at TAFE NSW and now works as an architectural draftsperson.

    Dan, 38, worked as a carpenter in the Australian Army for 15 years. He wanted a career change and decided to move into building design. Instead of working on building sites, he now helps create building plans.

    Around 14,000 people work as architectural draftspersons in Australia. Most work in construction and professional services. Many have a diploma or advanced diploma qualification.

    TAFE NSW student Dan Smith sits at a desk using a laptop in a computer room. He has short, dark hair, a moustache and wears dark rimmed glasses. He wears a military camouflage uniform, a wristwatch and has an Australian flag patch on his left sleeve.

    Dan continued working in the Australian Army while studying full-time. In 2024, he completed a Certificate IV in Residential Drafting at TAFE NSW. He later completed a Diploma of Building Design.

    Dan is now based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane. He works in a team that helps design buildings for army use. “I wanted to get off the tools and focus more on the design side of things”, he said.
    “Before I became a carpenter, I wanted to be an architect, but university was too expensive for me. I love being an architectural draftsman. This is my career now and the army and TAFE NSW have given me the opportunity to do what I’ve always wanted to do.”

    Building designers help turn ideas into real buildings. They create the plans that guide every stage of a build. TAFE NSW architectural technology teacher Simon Mollica said there is strong demand for building designers trained by TAFE NSW.

    “We can’t build enough houses to meet demand. There’s plenty of work for good building designers,” Mr Mollica said. "People often think construction is only about trades. Every project starts with a design, and someone produces those plans.”

    Mr Mollica adds, “We tend to see a real mix of people entering the profession. Some come straight from school. Others change careers later in life, like Dan. At TAFE NSW, students learn practical, industry-relevant skills. They gain relevant experience that employers value and graduate job ready. They make an immediate contribution to the construction sector.”

    Media enquiries only: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.

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