I am an early childhood trained teacher, working in the Public School system. I have a background in coordinating family day care and providing respite foster care. I have strong knowledge of the legislation and frameworks guiding early childhood settings.

I am passionate about advocating for children’s rights and supporting the adults in their lives to achieve these. Being a part of the ESP committee will enable me to use my skills to positively impact in the wider community.

I am also a mother and step-mother and I believe it certainly takes a village to raise a child.

Nanette Shurman has been an Early Support for Parents committee member for about 6 years, after working as an Early Intervention teacher with the Tasmanian Department of Education at the Early Childhood Intervention Service for many years. Prior to this she  worked in Perth, Canberra, Hobart and Scotland as a primary school teacher, project officer in children’s programs, child care educator, public servant in the Bureau of Statistics, and dental nurse. Nanette enjoys spending time with her friends and family(including 4 grandchildren)appreciating the  magnificent Tasmanian landscape and reading, walking, music, tango dancing and travel when borders permit.   

Janet have been a teacher during most of my adult life, 6 years with primary school children and 22 years with adults at TAFE. She studied at the University of Tasmania when her three adult children were quite young   and now have 4 grandchildren aged from 4 months to 11 years. Janet have been involved in a number of community groups.  She has had a strong connection with family and youth organisations: for 40 years as a Counsellor in Australian Breastfeeding Association, in the Child health Association and later as a leader in the Tasmanian Scout Association for 25 years. She is still a member of them.  Through these organisations She realised how important it was to support families and in 1989 a group of like-minded women from Midwifery, Child  Health and ABA they saw the need to give many families that extra support . They applied for money and now ESP has been going for over 30 years enabling many parents and children to have easier lives. Outside ESP and her counselling role, She has been in our local Landcare group, and love reading, gardening and music in between caring for grandchildren.