Acknowledgements

Marina Hennes

Clinical and School Based Speech Pathologist

Marina Hennes is a paediatric speech pathologist with 12 years of experience supporting children and young adults from disadvantaged communities and those with a range of communication difficulties. Marina has worked within schools to support students, increase teacher capacity and implement evidence-based programs and interventions. Through her Instagram platform, Marina's Speech Corner, Marina provides professional learning and resources to a community of over 5,000 followers, sharing evidence-based strategies and professional development content to support speech pathologists and educators in their practice.

Michelle Chadwick

Psychologist and Literacy Consultant

Michelle Chadwick is a psychologist, tutor, and literacy consultant who provides science of learning informed interventions to target reading and spelling for all learners. She began her structured literacy journey in 1995 and is trained in using evidence-based literacy approaches (like DISTAR) and general science-based learning principles with children with disabilities. Michelle works in both assessment and intervention for a wide range of neurodivergent young people, serving as both a clinician and interventionist. Michelle has trained in different methods such as Orton-Gillingham and Sounds Write and literacy difficulties through assessment, intervention and consulting.

Melissa Briggs

Literacy and Communication Specialist

Melissa Briggs is a literacy and communication specialist and founder of Thrive Learning and Support. She holds a Bachelor of Teaching degree in Primary Education and has completed a Post Graduate Certificate specialising in literacy. Melissa is a specialist literacy therapist who provides explicit, systematic, evidence-based support for reading and writing difficulties, with a particular passion for helping children develop written communication life skills so they can excel in their learning and future careers. She specialises in working with students in the early years and can help with literacy and communication concerns involving oral language, reading, spelling and writing, including Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Developmental Language Disorder.

Rookery Road

Literacy Intervention Clinic

Rookery Road is a literacy intervention clinic that believes every person has the right to learn in the way that works for them. The clinic offers teaching and support focused on reading, writing, spelling, and maths, with sessions designed around each learner's individual needs through one-on-one support, group sessions, or school-based professional learning. The team comprises specialist educators with extensive training in evidence-based literacy approaches including MSL, Ortan Gillingham, Sounds Write, Ron Yoshimoto OG/Maths/Morphology, Maths U See, and resources from UFI, Decodable Reader, Little Learners Love Literacy, and the work of the late William Van Cleave.

Centre of Digital Excellence NZ (CODE NZ)

CODE is an economic development initiative designed to nurture a nationally significant, sustainable game development ecosystem in Aotearoa – New Zealand. Based in Dunedin, CODE supports video game development studios throughout their lifecycle, from prototype creation through to production and scale-up funding for established companies. Spellcaster has been the recipient of two CODE grants that have enabled the resource's development.