Enlighten is a Gold & Silver Business Award Winner

Contact The Enlighten Education Head Office on 1300 735 997

Enlighten’s Founders and National Directors

Dannielle Miller, CEO, Enlighten Education


Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Graduate Certificate in Management (Professional Practice), Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training

“When working with teenagers, it is important to engage them emotionally; if you can capture their hearts, their minds will follow. I am incredibly proud of the work we do and passionate about acting as a catalyst for change.”

Dannielle is a highly respected and experienced educator, author and media commentator on issues affecting teenage girls.

Beginning her career as a high school teacher, she was soon on the path to becoming a major innovator and expert in the field of education. As English Coordinator at a dual-campus high school, she was responsible for the curriculum, staffing and quality of learning of the English faculty. Her commitment to student welfare was clear, and she was then commissioned by the Federal Government to be the Full Service Schools Coordinator for high schools – public, Catholic and independent – in the Western Sydney region. In this role, she assessed and advised on programs aimed at keeping in school those students who were at risk of dropping out before completing their education; her advice formed the basis for government funding decisions.

Having gained unique insight into how best to help at-risk students meet their full potential, she was inspired to start up a new program fusing the most effective strategies. The Lighthouse Project was born: mentors give at-risk students workplace responsibilities, which helps the students develop employment skills and allows them to discover the real-world relevance of what they learn at school. This immensely successful program continues in Western Sydney, assuring a bright future for students who may otherwise drop out.

Another of Dannielle’s innovations was a Higher School Certificate (HSC) course she developed in the field of service learning. This type of learning develops students’ entrepreneurial skills while at the same time involving them in meaningful volunteer work that benefits the community. Their work received NSW Board of Studies approval and brought a whole new level of interest to this positive and forward-thinking approach to education.

Her achievements in student welfare and curriculum development, plus long-held concerns about girls’ struggles with body image and self-esteem, came together in 2003, when Dannielle joined with fellow educator Francesca Kaoutal to found their own company, Enlighten Education. The company is based on the belief that by entering into, and engaging with, the world of teenage girls, they can encourage meaningful and constructive conversations about gender, identity, education, careers and girls’ futures.

Enlighten Education won the 2007 Australian Small Business Champion award for Children’s Services and is now a national network of passionate, talented women. In 2007 Dannielle was named the NSW /ACT Small Business Champion Entrepreneur.
Weekend Australian Featuring Danni as Australia's Number 1 Emerging Leader in Learning

In 2009, The Weekend Australian newspaper named Dannielle Australia’s number 1 Emerging Leader in Learning.

Dannielle delights in working with thousands of teenage girls across Australia and New Zealand each year, and she is regularly called upon by the media for her expertise on teen issues. She is an avid blogger (http://enlighteneducation.edublogs.org) and the author of The Butterfly Effect (Random House Australia, September 2009), a book on raising happy, confident teenage girls by forging deeply connected and loving mother-daughter relationships. Her achievements are featured in education journals, her articles have appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, and she is a popular speaker at youth and education conferences and forums.

Dannielle offers parent and teacher information sessions and is available to speak at seminars and conferences. See: Parent Information Sessions – run by Enlighten’s CEO Dannielle Miller.

She can be contacted by the media on 0412 097 977 and has her own website: www.danniellemiller.com.au.

Francesca Kaoutal

Bachelor of Education (Secondary)


“My greatest achievements include having a wonderful family and a satisfying career. My aim has always been to inspire in young people a belief in their own potential and a belief that learning can be fun and relevant to their world.”

In Francesca’s teaching career before co-founding Enlighten Education, she combined creativity with technologies expertise. She worked as a Learning Technologies Coordinator and has led curriculum development within various high schools, devised new curriculum for the Higher School Certificate Technology courses in New South Wales, devised a cross-curricular teaching program to integrate social justice into the classroom, and led students to enhance their business IT skills by developing and creating IT-based products and services for the school and business communities.

Francesca has also brought her creativity and her desire to empower students to her role as a costume designer for the annual Rock Eisteddfod. Francesca particularly enjoys sharing her passion and flair for creating and designing in the “Style File” component of our programs. In our “Get It Together” workshops, she specialises in helping young women learn to prioritise, become organised and maximise their potential.

NSW Team

Nikki
Nikki Davis
Bachelor of Arts (Communications)

“I get the most amazing reaction from people when I tell them about Enlighten and what we do. I believe that many people – both genders, all ages and walks of life – are becoming more and more aware of the need for the work Enlighten does with today’s girls. I have never been more proud to talk about my work and the fact that I get to remind all these gorgeous girls just how special they are.”

A trained dancer and former dance teacher, Nikki spent a number of years performing as a dancer and modelling professionally after completing her Communications degree. Her passion for writing led to a position as the editor of a magazine for young dancers, and a scriptwriting role with a production company followed. Then she moved into a producer role, working on the creation of videos and special events, and often appearing on camera as host.

Training to be a volunteer telephone counsellor with Lifeline gave Nikki the opportunity to explore her interest in counselling and psychotherapy, which she continues to study. It quickly became clear to Nikki during her time at Lifeline that she was particularly interested in social issues related to girls and women.

A former high school student of Enlighten’s CEO, Dannielle Miller, Nikki wanted to be involved the moment she saw the work Enlighten was doing in the community. Experienced in front of a crowd, with lots of stories to tell and a special interest in young women, Nikki has a proven rapport with school-aged girls and offers a unique insight into the worlds of fashion, entertainment and the arts.

 

Enlighten Education is proud to be a part of the transformation process in the following schools

Testimonials From Local Schools
 

Excellent program. The feedback from the girls was remarkable. They were quite emotional and definitely left feeling empowered.

Cassandra O'Sullivan, Head Teacher of Wellbeing and Learning

Asquith Girls High School

As a parent of a daughter who has experienced Enlighten’s program twice, I was already convinced before you came to our school, but as a Year Advisor who participated this year, I can now see why it works so well. Again Nikki was an amazing presenter and she had my year group totally engrossed in every word she said. The girls came away so much closer as a year group and also within their smaller friendship groups. They were empowered to be safe, physically and emotionally and reassessed how they saw themselves. They spent the next week telling all the next year group down that they just ‘have to do it next year’. I think this speaks volumes for the value the girls placed on the day and the parents who contacted me afterwards said they really valued the conversations it opened up at home. Thank you once again for bringing this to our girls.

Samantha Morley, Year 9 Advisor

New England Girls' School

Thank you for providing our Year Nine girls with such a wonderful experience! They came away from their time spent with Nikki, with such confidence, self-awareness and a genuine improved understanding and appreciation of themselves and what it means to feel ‘beautiful’. Nikki was a true inspiration to many of them and has definitely left a lasting impression. They are still talking about certain activities and discussions they had! Thank you again, and we look forward to working with you again in the future.

Sara Rojas, Careers Adviser

Cambridge Park High School

Kellyville High School is thrilled with the impact this program has had on our Year 9 and 10 girls. Thanks.

Caroline Wilson, Careers Adviser

Kellyville High School

The girls enjoyed a fantastic day with Fran and have been truly enlightened by the experience. The information provided and the activities chosen were appropriate for the students and also most engaging. An excellent day with a positive outcome for all. Thank you so much.

Michelle Cate

Mitchell High School

Thank you for providing students with an engaging day that instils self-worth, confidence and reinforces vocational pathways over the day. Great work Ladies!!

Mark Johnson, Careers Advisor

Blacktown Girls High School

Thank you so much to Nikki for a truly meaningful and engaging presentation. She brought a whole new level of connectedness to the year 11 group. For the girls to have the opportunity to think about themselves as individuals and as part of a group of young women and the power they have to work together rather than in competition with one another was thought-provoking and hopefully action-inspiring. Thank you again for the important messages you brought to the senior girls of St Catherine’s.

Nicky Schey, Year 11 Mentor

St Catherine's School, Waverley

Dear Fran
I thought your sessions inspired our students to think positively about life, their relationships and their own bodies. The girls enjoyed taking the time to write positive things about each other and each of them got a little boost which made them happier about themselves. It’s great that they can walk away from the day with a journal they can look at, to remind themselves about the positive things about them, a journal that they can also keep as a positive reminder of their happy schooling years.

Lauren Miller

Meriden

Hi GORGEOUS Danni

Tuesday was an absolutely amazing day for the girls (and their teachers). Thank you so very much for taking us joyfully and energetically through some 'enlightening' activities. We have done lots of de-briefing with the girls and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, as I'm sure it will state on your feedback forms. When asked what they most enjoyed or what they learned from the day, I was most pleased that a range of responses were given. Not only did the girls respond to you extremely positively, they felt the the pace of the day was perfect, that the music added much joy and that the activities were fun and important.

I had to resolve a friendship issue with two girls today and we were all using the steps in the 'Respect Rules' to help us to sort through the issue - THANK YOU! We now have a shared language and set of standards that we can work through in future friendship issues. There are other ways in which we are continuing the work of 'The Butterfly Effect'. We are wearing our wrist bands, many girls have downloaded the app, we have been writing in our journals and we have been discussing the content raised on Tuesday. I have heard girls saying, "Stop! I don't like it!" and although they were playing, the phrase and stance have been embedded.

Finally, I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading through your blog. I have watched several Kerri-Anne clips and read through several postings. You raise a lot of interesting points. As a girl and a teacher of girls, I am very interested to hear what you have to say. I have also encouraged some parents to have a read.

Thank you for being an ambassador for girls. I very much hope that I get the opportunity to work with you again in the future as I found you very inspiring!

Sacha McCarthy

Kambala

I found the speaker very engaging with the girls. The issues addressed were very relevant to the age of girls and I think they gook some valuable information and strategies to help them through the next few years of their teenage life.

Luella Cox

Hills Grammar School

Was a fabulous day, the girls learnt so much throughout the day, were engaged at all times, responded beautifully to the discussion and activities and they felt empowered and happy after the day.
Definitely worthwhile and the topics covered were spot on for our girls, Fran, you were inspiring and motivating for the girls and a wonderful role model, which showed you can be a business woman and a mother as well as be feminine and be confident in who you are.
Was wonderful to see the girls get so much out of your stories and how to respond to certain situations. It was just what the girls needed.

Jen May

St Luke's Grammar School, Dee Why

Once again a fantastic day! Thank you so much for being committed to the cause of helping young girls find their true beauty and navigate their way through girl world. The program was engaging, fun and informative. Looking forward to working with you again next year!

Sophie Renton, Youth Pastor

Oxford Falls Grammar School

The program was informative and the activities were appropriate and enjoyable for the students. The life experiences shared with the girls e.g. body image, were relevant to teenagers and the emotions/feelings and outcomes were expressed positively. It was fantastic that Danni was able to include our assistant year advisor (male staff member) in a positive and fun way….Overall, a great day and the girls had an enjoyable time. Thank you.

Clancy Childs, Year 8 Advisor

Kellyville High School

It was great timing as the girls put what they learnt into practice the very next day when they went to camp. In many cases the things they struggled with at camp involved communication issues and how to deal with conflict. I often just held up my wrist band and said something along the lines of "what is the best way to deal with this situation?"

Thank you for helping our Year 9 girls to develop vital skills for not just for their school lives, but also far beyond that.

Jasmine Wallis, Year 9 Year Advisor

St George Christian School

This is the second year that we have run the Enlighten event. We had no hesitation in re-booking this year because the response of our students last year was so positive and long lasting. In particular, we found that the students were much more tolerant of each other. However, the feedback from the girls was the real selling point. They were overwhelmingly supportive of the program, were able to demonstrate that some really life-changing learning had taken place and completely enjoyed the experience. And who wouldn’t be moved by Danni’s story, her courage and her amazing outlook on life? Of course, they all love her!

Carolyn Lee, Head of Senior School

St George Christian School

The workshops are a highlight for our girls. It is amazing to observe them being the best they can be when they are engaged with the workshops. Thank You! Nikki is a real pro!

Kim Slender

Emanuel School

I feel empowered, knowledgable, informed, motivated and inspired by the Butterfly Effect program... Well done Danni- you are the most engaging and eloquent speaker I have had the pleasure to experience! My little sister was in your workshop day 2 and she felt exactly the same way about it! Go the amazon Princess- you're just gorgeous!

Jody Sullivan

Barham High School

Thank you very much for providing such an inspirational day for our girls. The girls are still talking about the day and are very motivated to continue a ‘sisterhood’ group in the school. The girls have had positive comments and some have demonstrated changes in their own thinking. You were well informed and had the girls engaged from the start. Again thank you and we look forward to seeing you next year!!

Jemma Saville

Rouse Hill High School

Parents have phoned the school in praise of the Pastoral Day where Francesca from Enlighten Education spoke to the Year 10 girls about staying positive, being confident in themselves and how to look after themselves when faced with a difficult situation. All girls found the day fun, informative and enjoyable. Francesca was very motivating and encouraging. Thank you

Gemma McDermott,Pastoral Care Co-ordinator

Loreto Normanhurst

The girls responded extremely positively to both Nikki and the information that she presented them with. They are still talking about it and it has helped them to reassess some of the important issues regarding being happy, healthy young women. Thank you.

Laura Blanchard

Kambala

The girls had the best day (and so did Susie and myself!!) Your presenter was spot on and fully engaged our most difficult girls. My only suggestion – the quieter, well behaved girls were a bit neglected because the louder ones demanded attention. We thought next time we might split the groups and have half days, but it seemed a shame to miss the good stuff. Strategies? Otherwise, thanks so much for a fun, exciting and useful day!

Liz Parnell

The Jannali High School

This is the second year that we have run the Enlighten event. We had no hesitation in re-booking this year because the
response of our students last year was so positive and long lasting. In particular, we found that the students were much
more tolerant of each other. However, the feedback from the girls was the real selling point. They were overwhelmingly
supportive of the program, were able to demonstrate that some really life-changing learning had taken place and
completely enjoyed the experience. And who wouldn’t be moved by Danni’s story, her courage and her amazing outlook
on life? Of course, they all love her!

Carolyn Lee, Head of Senior School

St George Christian School

The workshops are a highlight for our girls. It is amazing to observe them being the best they can be when they are engaged with the workshops. Thank You! Nicki is a real pro!

Kim Slender

Emanuel School

I feel empowered, knowledgable, informed, motivated and inspired by the Butterfly Effect program... Well done Danni- you are the most engaging and eloquent speaker I have had the pleasure to experience! My little sister was in your workshop day 2 and she felt exactly the same way about it! Go the amazon Princess- you're just gorgeous!

Jody Sullivan

Barham High School

This was a wonderful day for our students. The feedback given to us indicated that they now feel much more confident about the transition to secondary school and they feel equipped with the skills necessary to face any difficulties. Thanks for a great day.

Robyn Hetherington, Year 6 Teacher

Canberra Girls Grammar School

The day was responded to well by the students involved. The presenter oozed positivity and this was reflected in the girls' involvement in the activities.

Michelle Cate

Mitchell High School

Thanks for an excellent day. This was a highly valuable experience for the girls and it helped allay fears about the move to secondary school.

Robyn Hetherington, Yr 6 Class Teacher

Canberra Girls Grammar

From my first dealings with Enlighten I was delighted at the flexibility, professionalism and courtesy that I was shown. Dannielle is an excellent presenter and facilitator and it was inspiring to watch her with our girls. Personally my dealings with Enlighten have changed my perspective on life. I first saw Dannielle after she had done a workshop with my daughter. She spoke such sense and with such passion. I fully believe that every young girl needs to experience the enlighten workshops, they are so relevant in today’s society. Thankyou for giving us that experience.

Lynne Sheville, Year 6 Teacher

Kaleen Primary School, ACT

I have had lots of girls look up Enlighten on the internet as they can't wait to find out what other programs they might do next year! The girls simply can't wait for more!

Stephanie O'Meara, Junior School Coordinator

Merici College, ACT

The girls were so engaged by Nicky’s brilliant facilitation. The teachers were all amazed at one person managing 90 children and keeping them enthralled all day. Both schools were thrilled with the content and really pleased to see the girls exposed to ideas of self esteem and critical thinking as well as ways to manage friendships. The teachers are planning to follow up the Enlighten Challenge and stay connected to the themes that resonated with the girls.

Robyn Laughton-Smith

Schools as Communities, Wanniassa, ACT