Skills That Travel: From Worksite to Wi-Fi

When Keegan Hogarth began his Certificate IV in Residential Drafting with Built Form Design Academy (BFDA), he didn’t just see it as a pathway off the tools—he saw it as a ticket to the world.

A qualified carpenter with years of hands-on experience running his own renovation business, Keegan knew his future needed more than just physical work. He was ready to design, not just build.

“I had so many people come to me wanting extensions and new builds,” he says. “But I always had to refer them to someone else for drafting. I figured—why not do it myself?”

That decision set him on a life-changing journey.

Learning from Anywhere, South Australia to Toronto and Beyond

Keegan enrolled in BFDA’s online Certificate IV course because of its flexibility, support, and practical focus.

“I was weighing up between TAFE SA and BFDA, and it just seemed like a much better system here. The combination of self-directed learning and flexibility is what set BFDA apart.

That flexibility proved critical. Halfway through his studies, Keegan and his partner moved to Toronto, then travelled through Europe. But the learning didn’t stop. Keegan made it work, studying in cafes, buses, or airport lounges, Keegan carried his studies with him—literally.

“It was really manageable. I just took my laptop, found a café, and got stuck into it. It gave me a sense of routine and progress even while we were on the move,” he says. “It was actually kind of perfect.”

Real Skills, Real Career Growth

For Keegan, one of the highlights of the course was mastering Revit, one of the leading Building Information Modelling (BIM) software used across the industry.

“Learning Revit was so fun. It kept me coming back. I could see how it would benefit me right away.”

Like many BFDA students,

Keegan’s background in construction gave him a solid foundation to understand the practical applications of what he was learning. While he found council compliance units a bit more challenging, the experience gave him insights that will prove invaluable in his future design work.

What’s Next?

While Keegan is currently back on the tools in Canada, the long-term plan is clear: he’s looking to combine design and construction into a “design and build” model, possibly even designing and building his own homes one day.

And he’s already thinking about taking the next step—BFDA’s nationally accredited Diploma of Building Design. “I think building is a lot more fun when you get to bring your creative ideas to life,” he says.