MultiLit Director of Strategy and Senior Research Fellow, Dr Jennifer Buckingham, has been recognised for her contribution to education with the announcement of the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours.
Dr Buckingham, also founder of the Five from Five project, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to educational research and literacy.
“As a tireless advocate for evidence-based reading instruction, Jennifer is a respected voice in the education policy space who has successfully raised public awareness around the critical importance of getting early literacy teaching right,” said MultiLit Chief Executive Officer Iain Rothwell.
“MultiLit congratulates Jennifer for this well-deserved recognition of her exceptional contribution.”
Dr Buckingham said she was honoured by the award.
“I have been fortunate to work with lots of wonderful people trying to improve literacy among Australian students, so it really is an honour to receive this recognition,” she said.
“Literacy is a fundamental and life-changing skill. I chose to make it a professional and personal focus to try to ensure all Australian students enjoy the many benefits of being able to read.”
Dr Buckingham joined MultiLit in 2019 following 20 years with the Centre for Independent Studies.
In 2016 she founded the Five from Five project with the objective of promoting effective, evidence-based reading instruction by providing free resources to educators and parents and advocating for evidence-based policy with politicians and policy makers.
Dr Buckingham has provided advice on reading instruction, curriculum and policy to the NSW, Victorian, South Australian, and federal governments and was the chair of the expert advisory group to the federal government on a Year 1 literacy assessment.
She also works closely with systems, schools, and teachers to improve literacy instruction and assessment. She is a board member of the Centre for Independent Studies and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, an affiliate member of the La Trobe University SOLAR Lab and a member of the National Catholic Education Commission’s Standing Committee on Educational Excellence.
