TAFE Queensland - Building a strong foundation

For more than 140 years, TAFE Queensland has helped people to change their lives. From supporting school leavers in kick-starting their careers and providing Queenslanders with the confidence and skills they need to pursue their true passion, to helping workers to advance further up their chosen path, the state’s largest and most experienced training provider is responsible for empowering countless students to achieve their goals.

But what happens next?

For Noosa-based builder Zye Norris, 30, undertaking his apprenticeship through TAFE Queensland was just the first step in what is now a successful career. Having grown up with a father who loved to DIY, Zye was instantly drawn to working in a trade, signing up for a school-based apprenticeship in 2010.

“My dad always used to work on the house on the weekends, so growing up I would ‘help’ him out, which made me realise I had a passion for working with my hands,” Zye said.

Having grown up in a surfing family, Zye’s talent in the water also heavily influenced his career choice, with the sponsored board-rider keen to strike a strong work/life balance early on.

“I would sometimes skip school to go surfing, and I would always see the tradies out there too. The idea of my career working around my lifestyle seemed pretty cool to me,” he laughed.

Employed by a local construction company, Zye completed his carpentry apprenticeship in blocks at TAFE Queensland’s Nambour campus, becoming qualified in 2014. Zye said this experience helped build his confidence in the industry and develop an appreciation for vocational education and training.

“It was always a great experience to get to work with other apprentices in the classroom and the workshop. At each stage, I left feeling confident that I had learned and understood more than when I’d started there the week prior.”

After seven years working in industry gaining valuable experience on the tools, Zye decided to return to study, enrolling in the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC40110) at TAFE Queensland’s Nambour campus. Subsidised under TAFE Queensland’s partnership with Construction Skills Queensland, the year-long course provides participants with the skills and technical qualification they need to apply for a Builder – Low Rise Licence and successfully manage a residential building business.

For Zye, it was the logical next step.

“I did it online, so I would spend most nights and weekends with my head in the computer,” he said.

“When I signed up, I was just eager to learn more and take the next step in the building industry. But the more I learnt and understood, the more the drive to start my own business grew and felt within reach,” he said.

Zye said the course gave him the push he needed to back himself. At the end of 2023, he started his own business while still working fulltime for his former boss, before taking the leap of faith to become fully self-employed at the beginning of 2024.

Zye Norris Building offers new architectural builds, renovations, and extensions across the Noosa area, with the goal of creating beautiful homes that fit people’s lifestyles while being functional and sustainable.

“Most people’s biggest financial purchase is their home, so when you’re fortunate enough to get the opportunity to create their homes and work with them throughout the process, it’s really rewarding,” Zye said.

Currently Zye employs one other carpenter to work alongside him, but he is already looking forward to the future and is excited to soon take the next step in employing his own apprentice – fostering the next generation of builders while investing in growing and advancing his own business.

“It won’t be long before I take someone on board and put them through TAFE to develop their skills the same way I was able to,” he said.

“The biggest challenge for me at the moment is to make sure I find the right work/life balance. I’m definitely not the first and I’m sure I won’t be the last to say this, but starting a business–any business–is difficult, and it is easy to get consumed by the workload when you’re doing it all yourself.”

That said, Zye is doing his best to achieve his childhood dreams and make both parts of his life work together – with some impressive results. As a competitive surfer, Zye has travelled the world, amassing a following of more than 20,000 people on Instagram. He continues to surf in local competitions, and now works with professional surfer Julian Wilson for his new brand, Rivvia Projects.

“I have been fortunate enough that my surfing career has led me to some amazing places and given me incredible opportunities,” Zye said.

“It certainly gets tricky balancing it all at times, but I’ve been lucky to be able to make both parts of life work together and run smoothly for the most part.”

To find out how TAFE Queensland can help set you on the path to achieving your career goals and ensure the continued success of your business, visit tafeqld.edu.au