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Dr Nicola Surtees

Contact

Department: School of Educational Studies and Leadership

Email: nicola.surtees@canterbury.ac.nz

Office: Rehua 506

Language: English

About
Research / Creative works
Supervision
Networks
Methods & Equipment

Researcher Summary

My interdisciplinary scholarship encompasses family sociology and early childhood education. Family diversity and the novel family relationships, forms of relatedness and processes of kin differentiation that are generated through the use of assisted reproductive technologies are ongoing research agendas. The ways in which early childhood education settings become places where every family experiences belonging and wellbeing is a core theme in my work. How early childhood teachers might engage in socially just and inclusive practices, including anti-racism advocacy, while addressing issues of exclusion are related themes. Heteronormativity and sexuality and gender matters in the early childhood sector are also focus areas.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • Education: Assessment and Evaluation; Childhood Studies; Curriculum Development; Disability Studies in Education; Diversity; Early Childhood; Inclusive Education; Pedagogy
  • Sociology, Social Policy, Social Work, Criminology and Gender Studies: Gender & Sexuality; Social Policy; Sociology

Resources

  • Staff webpage

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Journal Articles
  • Surtees N. (2023) Divorce discourse as a kinship resource in lesbian known donor reproduction: “The dad has bubba on the weekend”. LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal : 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/27703371.2023.2184437.
  • Sotardi VA., Surtees N., Vincent K. and Johnston H. (2022) Belonging and adjustment for LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ students during the social transition to university.. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education 15(6): 755-765. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000305.
  • Surtees N. and Morgan K. (2022) “I can be a girl if I want to”: Supporting or silencing children’s working theories during counter-heteronormative picturebook sessions in early childhood education. Waikato Journal of Education 27(1): 133-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.15663/wje.v26i1.893.
  • Surtees N., Taleni LT., Ismail R., Rarere-Briggs B. and Stark R. (2021) Sailiga tomai ma malamalama’aga fa’a-Pasifika—Seeking Pasifika Knowledge to Support Student Learning: Reflections on Cultural Values Following an Educational Journey to Samoa. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies 56(2): 269-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40841-021-00210-7.
  • Surtees N. and Bremner P. (2020) Gay and Lesbian Collaborative Co-Parenting in New Zealand and the United Kingdom: ‘The Law Doesn’t Protect the Third Parent’. Social and Legal Studies 29(4): 507-526. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0964663919874861.
  • Gunn AC. and Surtees N. (2019) “Go NZ YAS!!”: Children’s news media texts as curriculum resources in Aotearoa New Zealand. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood 20(4): 337-349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1463949119888496.
  • Osgood J., Robinson KH., Díaz CJ., Andersen CE., Pérez MS., Gunn AC. and Surtees N. (2019) Revisiting diversity and difference in early childhood through children’s news media. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood 20(4): 319-323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1463949119888479.
  • Kelly J. and Surtees N. (2013) We are a family: Legal issues for lesbian and gay parented families in New Zealand. Plymouth Law and Criminal Justice Review 5(1): 39-49.
  • Gunn AC. and Surtees N. (2011) Matching parents' efforts: How teachers can resist heteronormativity in early education settings. Early Childhood Folio 15(1): 27-31.
  • Surtees N. (2011) Family Law in New Zealand: The Benefits and Costs for Gay Men, Lesbians, and Their Children. Journal of GLBT Family Studies 7(3): 245-263. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2011.564945.
  • Surtees N. and Gunn AC. (2010) (Re)marking heteronormativity: Resisting practices in early childhood education contexts. Australasian Journal Of Early Childhood 35(1): 42-47.
  • Purdue K., Gordon-Burns D., Gunn A., Madden B. and Surtees N. (2009) Supporting inclusion in early childhood settings: Some possibilities and problems for teacher education. International Journal of Inclusive Education 13(8): 805-815. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13603110802110743.
  • Surtees N. (2008) Teachers following children?: Heteronormative responses within a discourse of child-centredness and the emergent curriculum. Australian Journal of Early Childhood 33(3): 10-17.
  • Surtees N. (2006) Difference and diversity: 'Talking the talk', 'walking the talk', and the spaces between. International Journal of Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood 4(2): 49-65.
  • Surtees N. (2005) Teacher Talk about and around Sexuality in Early Childhood Education: deciphering an unwritten code. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood 6(1): 19-29.
  • Surtees N. (2003) The future of teacher education: Is early childhood meeting the challenge? Pacific Asian Education 15(1): 77-85.
  • Surtees N. (2003) Unravelling the woven mat: Queering the whaariki. Waikato Journal of Education 9: 143-153.
Edited Volumes
  • Gunn AC; Surtees N; Gordon-Burns D; Purdue K (Ed.) (2020) Te aotūroa tātaki. Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand. (2nd ed.) Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Gordon-Burns D., Gunn AC., Purdue K. and Surtees N. (2012) Te Aotūroa Tātaki: Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellington: NZCER Press. xix+206.
Chapters
  • Delaune A. and Surtees N. (2023) Wellbeing in early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond: Intimacy, physicality and love. In Kamp A; Brown C; McMenamin T; O'Toole V (Ed.), Wellbeing: Global policies and perspectives. Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond: 35-55.Peter Lang Ltd.
  • Surtees N. (2022) Constructing Gay Fatherhood in Known Donor-Lesbian Reproduction: ‘We get to live that life, we get to be parents’. Health, Technology and Society: 253-277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9451-6_11.
  • Surtees N. (2022) Constructing gay fatherhood in known donor-lesbian reproduction: “We get to live that life, we get to be parents”. In Shaw RM (Ed.), Reproductive citizenship: Technologies, rights and relationships: 253-277.Palgrave Macmillan. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9451-6.
  • Surtees N. (2021) Reproductive and familial futures in Aotearoa New Zealand. In Johnson E (Ed.), Parenting in the Anthropocene: 61-72. Christchurch: Freerange Press.
  • Gordon-Burns D., Gunn A., Surtees N. and Purdue K. (2020) Introduction: Thinking differently about early childhood inclusive education in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. In Gunn A; Surtees N; Gordon-Burns D; Purdue K (Ed.), Te aotūroa tātaki. Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand (2nd ed.): 1-17. Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Gunn A., Surtees N., Gordon-Burns D. and Purdue K. (2020) Puzzling over inclusion: Concluding remarks. In Gunn A; Gordon-Burns D; Purdue K (Ed.), Te aotūroa tātaki. Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand (2nd ed.): 232-247. Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Surtees N. (2020) Donor, father, uncle, or friend? Making visible diverse relational connections in inclusive early childhood education settings. In Gunn AC; Surtees N; Gordon-Burns D; Purdue K (Ed.), Te aotūroa tātaki. Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand (2nd ed.): 141-158. Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Gordon-Burns D., Gunn AC., Purdue K. and Surtees N. (2012) Introduction: Thinking differently about early childhood inclusive education in Aotearoa New Zealand. In Gordon-Burns D; Gunn AC; Purdue K; Surtees N (Ed.), Te Aotūroa Tātaki: Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand: 1-20. Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Gordon-Burns D., Gunn AC., Purdue K. and Surtees N. (2012) Puzzling over inclusion: Concluding remarks. In Gordon-Burns D; Gunn AC; Purdue K; Surtees N (Ed.), Te Aotūroa Tātaki: Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand: 175-191. Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Surtees N. (2012) Families and kinship: Reframing forms of intimacy and care in inclusionary early childhood education settings. In Gordon-Burns D; Gunn AC; Purdue K; Surtees N (Ed.), Te Aotūroa Tātaki: Inclusive early childhood education: Perspectives on inclusion, social justice and equity from Aotearoa New Zealand: 39-56. Wellington: NZCER Press.
  • Terreni L., Gunn A., Kelly J. and Surtees N. (2010) In and Out of the Closet: Successes and Challenges Experienced by Gay- and Lesbian-Headed Families in their Interactions with the Education System in New Zealand. In Green V; Cherrington S (Ed.), Delving into Diversity: An International Exploration of Issues of Diversity in Education: 151-161. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
  • Surtees N. (2006) Queering the hetero(norm) in research: unsettling notions of the sexual other. In Mutch C (Ed.), Challenging the Notion of "Other": Reframing Research in the Aotearoa New Zealand Context: 63-82. Wellington: NZCER Press.
Conference Contributions - Published
  • Gunn A. and Surtees N. (2008) (Re)marking heteronormativity: Resisting practices in early childhood education contexts. In.
  • Surtees N. (2005) Difference and diversity: 'Talking the talk', 'walking the talk' and the spaces between. In.
  • Surtees N. (2001) The future of teacher education: Is early childhood meeting the challenge? In.
Conference Contributions - Other
  • Azarmandi M., Delaune A. and Kururangi K. (2021) ARC-ECE: Anti-Racism Commitment in Early Childhood Education. Online: NZARE, 15-17 Nov 2021.
  • Surtees N., Taleni T. and Rarere-Briggs B. (2021) Saili Matagi: Seeking winds of change in Pasifika education. Online: NZARE, 15-17 Nov 2021.
  • Surtees N. and Gunn A. (2018) (Re)producing and contesting inclusion and exclusion through education orientated media texts. Bolzano, Italy: European Conference on Educational Research, 4-7 Sep 2018.
  • Surtees N. (2014) Becoming father, doing fathering: How gay men's practising of relatedness, intimacy and care disrupts normative constructions of families. Yokohama, Japan: XVIII International Sociological Association World Congress of Sociology (ISA), 13-19 Jul 2014.
  • Surtees N. (2014) Gay men practising relatedness, intimacy and care: Disrupting normative constructions of families. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Annual Conference Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (SAANZ), 4-5 Dec 2014.
  • Surtees N. (2012) The 'new social territory': Diverse family practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. Christchurch, New Zealand: Nanny Education Organisation of New Zealand Conference, 14-15 Jun 2012.
  • Semann A., Robinson K. and Surtees N. (2011) Schooling heteronormativity and heterosexism in early childhood education. Wellington, New Zealand: 2nd AsiaPacific Outgames Human Rights Conference, 16-18 Mar 2011.
  • Surtees N. (2011) Issues of privilege and silence: family diversity, equity and inclusion in early childhood education. Melbourne, Australia: Honoring the Child, Honoring Equity 11, 18-19 Nov 2011.
  • Surtees N. (2011) The legal recognition of parent-child relationships in New Zealand family law: Positive and negative impacts on lesbian mothers, gay fathers and their children. Wellington, New Zealand: 2nd AsiaPacific Outgames Human Rights Conference, 16-18 Mar 2011.
  • Surtees N. (2010) Families in transition: The benefits and costs of New Zealand family law for lesbians, gay men and their children. Melbourne, Australia: 11th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, 7-9 Jul 2010.
Reports
  • Gunn AC. and Surtees N. (2009) "We're a family": How lesbians and gay men are creating and maintaining family in New Zealand. Blue Skies Report No 29/09, August 2009.Commissioned by New Zealand Families Commission, Komihana A Whånau. 51pp.
Conference Contributions - Other
  • Gunn AC. and Surtees N. (2009) "Who are you?": Same-gender parented families navigation of tensions around family diversity in early education settings. Strasbourg, France: 19th EECERA Annual Conference, 26-29 Aug 2009.
  • Semann A., Grieshaber S., DeJean W. and Surtees N. (2008) When curriculum aims to be inclusive: Addressing gay and lesbian issues, queer theory and gender studies in early childhood curriculum. Canberra, Australia: Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference, 3-6 Oct 2008.
  • Surtees N. (2007) Sexuality: The hidden curriculum. Chicago, IL USA: American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting 2007, 9-13 Apr 2007.
  • Surtees N. (2007) Teachers Following Children? Heteronormative Responses within a Discourse of Child-Centeredness and the Emergent Curriculum. Rotorua, New Zealand: Early Childhood Convention 2007, 23-28 Sep 2007.
  • Gordon-Burns D., Purdue K., Madden B., Surtees N. and Gunn A. (2006) How might teacher education support inclusion in early childhood settings? Rotorua, New Zealand: Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Conference, 30 Nov-4 Dec 2006.
  • Purdue K., Gordon-Burns D., Gunn AC., Madden B. and Surtees N. (2006) Supporting inclusion in early childhood settings: Some possibilities and problems for teacher education. Rotorua, New Zealand: Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Conference, 30 Nov-4 Dec 2006.
  • Surtees N. (2005) Sexualities and otherness in early childhood education: some troubling queries. Dunedin, New Zealand: New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) National Conference, 1 Dec 2005.
  • Gunn A., Child C., Madden B., Purdue K., Surtees N., Thurlow B. and Todd P. (2003) Building inclusive communities in early childhood education: Diverse perspectives from Aotearoa/New Zealand. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Eighth Early Childhood Convention, 22 Sep 2003.
  • Surtees N. (2002) Responding to Student Diversity: Are Teacher Education Programmes Meeting the Challenge? Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Tertiary Equity Committee Conference, 1 Jul 2002.
Oral Presentations
  • Surtees N. (2015) Including diverse families: Reframing relatedness, intimacy and care in early childhood education. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Professional Learning Hui: Kidsfirst Kindergartens.
  • Gunn A. and Surtees N. (2010) Lesbian and gay parents talk about teaching: What can we learn? Christchurch, New Zealand: Early Years Enquiry Research Group: 'The Gathering'.
  • Surtees N., Gunn A., Surtees N. and Gunn A. (2009) We're a Family: A study of how lesbians and gay men are creating and maintaining family in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Families Commission Research Seminar 2009.
Theses / Dissertations
  • Surtees NJ. (2017) Narrating connections and boundaries: Constructing relatedness in lesbian known donor familial configurations. PhD Thesis, Christchurch, New Zealand. University of Canterbury.
  • Surtees N. (2006) Sexualities Matters in Early Childhood Education: The Management of Children/Bodies and their Unsettling Desires. Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch College of Education.

Student Supervision

Displaying all items.
    Current
  • PhD - Beaumont-Bates JR: ePortfolios in early childhood education: Hearing children’s voices: an exploratory study. (2022)
  • PhD - Smith J: Te toia, te haumatia - A case study of culturally safe schools for Maori teachers
  • Completed
  • PhD - Dayman T: Developing inclusive pedagogy: A case study of one initial teacher education programme in Aotearoa New Zealand (2019)
  • PhD - Macartney B: Disabled by the discourse: Two families' narratives of inclusion, exclusion and resistance in education (2011)
  • PhD - McIlroy AM: "The myth of inability": Exploring children's capability and belonging at primary school through narrative assessment (2017)
  • PhD - Wong K: New interpretations of giftedness in early years: Looking through the lens of social constructionism (2018)
  • Masters - Morgan K: Early childhood teachers' use of picturebooks to counter heteronormativity: Children's working theories about gender diversity and LGBTIQ-parented families (2020)
  • Masters - Niles A: Complexities of assessment: Striving to get it 'right' (2016)
  • Masters - Shareef S: How teachers support children's learning through culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy in two early childhood education centres (2020)
  • Masters - Williams J: "I could be the king of rubbish!": Children's perspectives on their role as 'guardians of the Earth' (2015)
  • Masters - Shirr V: Assessment for learning in infant and toddler education and care: A study of teachers’ talk and practice at one centre (2008)

Review and Refereeing

Displaying all items.
  • Australasian Journal of Early Childhood ( 2011 - 2023)
  • Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood ( 2008 - 2011)
  • Curriculum Matters ( 2011 - 2023)
  • Early Childhood Education Journal ( 2011 - 2023)
  • Early Childhood Folio ( 2011 - 2023)
  • Teacher Educator ( 2011 - 2023)

Affiliations

  • New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) (Professional Organisation): Member
  • OMEP: World Organisation for Early Childhood Education/Organisation Mondiale pour l'Éducation Préscolaire (Professional Organisation): Member
  • Tertiary Education Union (TEU; Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa) (Professional Organisation): Member

Key Methodologies

  • Qualitative methodologies
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