About the Five From Five project
The Five from Five project was developed with the objective of promoting effective, evidence-based reading instruction, by providing free resources to teachers, principals and parents and advocating for evidence-based policy with politicians and policy makers.
Dr Jennifer Buckingham founded Five from Five in 2016 after completing her PhD research at Macquarie University. Her research was an experimental study of a reading intervention for struggling readers in a socioeconomically disadvantaged school.
Five from Five started at The Centre for Independent Studies with the support of Macquarie Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Belalberi Foundation, Kate and Peter Mason (Phase 1 – 2016/17), Eureka Benevolent Fund and Paul Ramsay Foundation (Phase 2 – 2018).
Five from Five is now supported by MultiLit Pty Ltd as a community project to promote evidence-based reading instruction and improve literacy.
FIVE from FIVE alliance
The Five from Five alliance is a group of organisations that endorse our objectives and work with Five from Five in mutually beneficial partnerships.
Five from Five team
Dr Jennifer Buckingham OAM FRSN
Dr Jennifer Buckingham is the Founder and Director of the Five from Five project. She is also Director of Strategy and Senior Research Fellow at MultiLit. Jennifer’s doctoral research was on effective literacy instruction for at-risk and struggling readers. Jennifer is a board member of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), an affiliate member of the La Trobe University Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab, and an expert member on the National Catholic Education Commission’s Educational Excellence Standing Committee. Jennifer provides advice to governments and ministers on literacy policy and curriculum, and acts as a ‘critical friend’ to numerous schools and systems in all sectors on a non-commercial basis. She frequently speaks at conferences and writes for academic publications and media.
Maddy Goto
Maddy has more than 10 years’ experience as a classroom teacher in government and non-government schools and most recently had a senior leadership role as a K-6 Curriculum Coordinator. She is an active member of teacher networks including Think Forward Educators, and enjoys attending researchED and Sharing Best Practice conferences. Maddy is on the AERO teacher reference panel. She has a Master of Teaching (Primary) and has also studied languages and linguistics. She has extensive experience developing and delivering professional learning and has an excellent knowledge of scientific evidence-based teaching practice for instruction and intervention. When she hasn’t got her nose in a book, Maddy can be found out walking the cliffs or pottering in her garden.
Julie Mavlian
Julie Mavlian worked on the Five from Five project from 2016 to 2019 as a research assistant & communications officer. She has been instrumental in the development of the website content and the 2018 Phonics Roadshows. Julie is currently responsible for most of the Five from Five social media content and promotes the work of Five from Five. Julie has a Masters Degree in Special Education and has worked in the field of education for 30 years with a wide variety of age groups from preschool to tertiary education. Julie has experience as an Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Learning as well as learning and support teacher in NSW. She was recently awarded a Principal’s Network Award for Excellence in the role of classroom teacher. Julie has a particular interest in helping students with reading difficulties, advocating for change in teacher education, as well as helping parents understand learning difficulties and the choices they have in finding help for their children.
