The founding experts behind expert-grounded-AI
Qualifications
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PhD (online education)
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Master of Learning & Development (online education)
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MBA (Hon)
About Deniese
Dr Deniese Cox is the founder and Principal Consultant of TeachingOnline.com.au (Praemineo Pty Ltd), delivering research-backed professional development to more than 3,500 educators annually across Australian VET, higher education, and workplace training.
Since 2020, Deniese has reached 12,000+ educators across Australian public and private institutions, international universities, and government agencies, maintaining an independently verified participant satisfaction rating of 4.8/5.
She previously taught Learning Design at Masters level at Griffith University and presented one of Australia's first Bachelor of Education subjects on online pedagogy in 2019 (before the pandemic made that expertise urgently necessary across the sector). Her teaching spanned university lecturing, VET training from Certificate III to Diploma level, and face-to-face, online, and blended delivery across Australia, China, and Indonesia.
Today Deniese personally develops and presents all PD content. Every resource that carries her name reflects her research, her voice, and her professional judgment.
Research Focus
Deniese’s published and commissioned research spans all six stages of the learning journey from pre-enrolment barriers through active learning in both synchronous and asynchronous mediums. With a clear focus on increasing the authentic engagement of learners and enhancing genuine learning outcomes, her research-driven strategies have direct learner impact while supporting educators with practical PD and ready-to-use templates. Selected research outcomes include:
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Digital barriers to participation: a multi-year investigation finding that up to 87% of teaching workload in some weeks is consumed by remedial digital skills support.
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Pre-enrolment barriers: new research revealing the scale of drop-off before learners even arrive, with practical low-cost interventions shown to lift completion rates from 53% to 84%.
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Slide design and learning outcomes: empirical research demonstrating measurable differences in learner engagement and outcomes based on slide design decisions.
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Live online session design: extensive trials measuring how session duration, camera use, and first-five-minute design affect adult learner outcomes.
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Assessment design in the AI era: ongoing research on authentic assessment that remains valid regardless of learner AI use.
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Effective online discussion design: the 6-step formula for discussion forum success, developed and trialled with real learners.
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Learner engagement and nudge effectiveness: research finding that many standard LMS messages actively lower engagement, and identifying the four characteristics of messages that do trigger action.
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PD-to-practice transfer: research demonstrating that educators using her PD strategies for one year increased post-PD implementation rates from 12% to 77%.
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Reduce skipped content: identifying and refining strategies that were observed across extensive trials to increase engagement with essential content from 18% to 97%, and identification of the 5 most common mistakes being made when communicating content roadmaps.
Research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the International Journal of Research Methods in Education and Active Learning in Higher Education; work commissioned by ASQA and NCVER; and presented at THETA, TDA, and other VET conferences. Recipient of the 2023 ODLAA Award for VET research.
Other Services
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TeachingOnline.com.au
Delivering research-backed PD empowering educators to achieve better learning outcomes
Qualifications
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Master of Education (Further Education and Training) elearning & competency based assessment focus
About Phill
Phill is one Australia’s most qualified and experienced VET experts, with 27+ years’ experience working with hundreds of public, not-for-profit, private and enterprise VET providers. He specialises in strategic execution, quality management systems and standards implementation - with supporting technology - offering unparalleled expertise in aligning organisational strategy with regulatory compliance and quality outcomes.
A three-time BRW Fast 100 listed entrepreneur, Phill has founded and led various consultancy, technology and education businesses, including running his own national private VET college that supported 25,000+ students over a 12 year period - where he undertook the management of funding/subsidy contracts in all Australian states. He has led various strategy projects with well-known brand public institutions, government-owned enterprises and departments, universities and private sector entities.
Phill has held international certification with Exemplar Global and Fellow status with the AHRI. Holding ten tertiary qualifications, including VET qualifications from the BSZ, TAA, and TAE training packages at Certificate IV and Diploma levels, Phill combines academic rigour with practical application. His extensive experience includes successfully guiding diverse organisations through complex regulatory landscapes, leveraging his strategic insight and quality systems expertise to drive sustainable business improvements. His in-depth knowledge spans all key VET sector operating requirements. He has established many new RTO operations over the last three decades - including for a publicly-listed brand and for a public university – and has achieved ISO certification for VET providers where desired. He has led implementation of new Quality Management Systems (QMS) in government departments, public companies, universities, national associations and large private RTO networks.
In his various consultancy firms, Phill has managed contracts with State Government departments, AusIndustry and a six year engagement with Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), supporting local indigenous business owners and projects. He has undertaken governance training with 500+ private, not-for-profit and government-owned enterprise directors and supported succession planning approaches with 100+ small business owners.
Having installed his first LMS in 2001, Phill has supported 200+ web-based technology implementations including solutions with numerous ASX top 50 companies. Multi-award winning implementations include multiple LearnX awards for St Lukes Health Insurance and vetr Community projects, and the recognition of CYPHER LEARNING global ‘Customer of the Year - Operational Efficiency Award’ for his LMS implementation with the Vanuatu Institute of Technology (VIT). His previous technology companies developed well known VET tech products including ‘VETenrol’ and more recently ‘RTOApply,’ while his previous national RTO data centre operations supported back-end records management for national and enterprise-based VET providers.
As a qualified auditor (DipQA), Phill has conducted 500+ internal & external audits, including as a lead auditor in external audits for a National Regulator, and has provided invaluable support to myriad VET providers during 70+ ASQA regulator audits across six states and territories.
Phill’s strategic approach and proven track record make him a sought-after advisor for organisations across various industry sectors aiming to maintain a robust strategic fit and achieve quality-focused operational performance.
Other Services
