Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional owners and custodians of the country we work on, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and culture. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and value the role their children and young people play as future community leaders.
What is the OCC?
The OCC is short way to say the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
The Children’s Commissioner is Shahleena Musk.
Shahleena works for all the children and young people in the Northern Territory. This means she works for you!
Her job is to make sure that you have all your rights respected. When you have your rights respected, it is easier for you to grow up happy, loved and looked after by the adults in your life.
It’s also her responsibility to talk about laws that affect you and help make those laws better. Shahleena helps everyone understand how important you are. She works to make sure that you are treated fairly.
Children's Commissioner
The Children’s Commissioner is Shahleena Musk. Shahleena works for all the children and young people in the Northern Territory. This means she works for you! Her job is to make sure that you have all your rights respected. When you have your rights respected, it is easier for you to grow up happy, loved and looked after by the adults in your life.
Digital Me
Watch this space.
Would you like to tell us what is on your mind?
In the near future we will be launching a fun interactive way for you to let us know what is on your mind. The process can be completely anonymous or if you would like to let other kids know what's on your mind we can share it for you too.
What we do
At the OCC, Shahleena works to make sure governments and services respect your rights when they make decisions that will affect you.
How do we do this?
Shahleena, and the people who work with her at the OCC, listen to what you tell us about your lives. We travel across the Territory to hear from heaps of children and young people.
We listen to you about all the things that are good in your life, and about all the things that you’re worried about. We use what you tell us to help make the Northern Territory a better place for you to grow up in. We help make sure your voice is heard when people are making decisions that affect you.
We keep an eye on places where you are living away from family, like detention or in care. Every year we tell government how good, or not so good, these services are for children in the Territory. We tell the government what you have told us about your lives too! Check out what we wrote here: (link to child friendly annual report)
We have to give extra attention to places like Saltbush bail accommodation for children. The OCC wants to make sure that all children living at Saltbush are looked after by the adults working there, have help to follow bail rules and feel safe, respected and cared for. We talk to the adults and children at Saltbush and tell the government what you told us and what we think could be better. Check out what we wrote here: (link to child friendly bail accommodation)
We have to give extra attention to Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre. We go into these places to see how well they treating children, we talk with the adults who work there and we hear from the children about their experience. We will create a way for you to read about this soon!
Children's Rights
Every person on earth has human rights. Human rights are the things that everybody needs to live safely, healthy and happy.
Children have a special list of human rights called the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Most people say CRC for short. All children have the same rights, no matter how old you are or where you live. No one can take your rights away from you.
In 1990, the Australian Government promised to make sure all Australian children have their rights respected.
The CRC shows how valuable children are and how important it is for everyone to keep you at the heart of everything. It tells us you should not be treated unfairly just because you are young. The CRC makes sure adults listen to what you say and take you seriously. It tells us that you need to be safe and looked after so that you can grow up strong.
Children's Commissioner
The Children’s Commissioner is Shahleena Musk. Shahleena works for all the children and young people in the Northern Territory. This means she works for you! Her job is to make sure that you have all your rights respected. When you have your rights respected, it is easier for you to grow up happy, loved and looked after by the adults in your life.
Our promises to you...
Respect
We will treat everyone equally no matter where they are from or who they are. We will make sure everyone feels included and welcome.
Inform
We will give you information about your rights and what to do if you think a person or an organisation are not treating you well.
Give you a voice
We will make sure there are lots of ways for you to have a say in the work we do.
Action
We will listen and act on what you tell us.
Trust
You can trust that we will care about your needs and feelings.
We will continue to get better at what we do.
Safety
We will make our place safe and comfortable for you, and make sure the people that work for us have the right knowledge and attitude to work with children and young people.
What is the OCC
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is an independent office that is responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children in the Northern Territory.
The Commissioner
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is an independent office that is responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children in the Northern Territory.
What we do
Latest Updates
Publications
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner travels across the Northern Territory listening to young people about the things that matter to them.
Click on the community name in the map to see what kids are saying.
“We need more guidance programs, helping students decide what they wanna do and where they wanna go. More out of school services, and more stuff in school.”
Girl, 17 years, Darwin
DARWIN
In March 2021 we went to Darwin to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Palmerston
In October 2021 we went to Palmerston to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Jabiru
In December 2020 we went to Jabiru to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Katherine
In April 2022 we went to Katherine to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Barunga
In November 2020 we went to Barunga to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Beswick
In November 2020 we went to Beswick to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Mataranka
In November 2020 we went to Mataranka to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- It’s not the best place for young people to grow up and learn – there aren’t a lot of young people, nothing to do, no opportunities or entertainment.
- Young people struggle to feel motivated to come to school – small, combined classes, limited support.
- Young people want more support to figure out their future goals and how to achieve them.
Ngukurr
In November 2020 we went to Ngukurr to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- There’s heaps for young people to do with family, on the land, connecting to culture. Aside from that, not much else.
- Young people feel positive about their futures but not about the opportunities/possibilities.
- Fighting, violence, alcohol make the community feel unsafe for young people and sometimes they don’t attend school because of it.
Jilkminggan
In November 2020 we went to Jilkminggan to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- Young people like fishing and being spending time with family.
- There is too much fighting in community and problems with alcohol.
- There aren’t many services to help young people.
Mataranka
In November 2020 we went to Mataranka to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- It’s not the best place for young people to grow up and learn – there aren’t a lot of young people, nothing to do, no opportunities or entertainment.
- Young people struggle to feel motivated to come to school – small combined classes, limited support.
- Young people want more support to figure out their future goals and how to achieve them.
Tennant Creek
In June 2021 we went to Tennant Creek to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- Young people told us there aren’t enough things to do in Tennant Creek.
- The climate makes Tennant Creek a really hard place to live, especially when there aren’t good places for young people to hang out.
- Drugs, alcohol and crime are a problem for Tennant Creek, and it makes a lot of young people want to leave.
Papunya
In June 2022 we went to Papunya to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You like living in Papunya, spending time with MacYouth and doing sports.
- You're worried about young people stealing, especially from the school.
- You like coming to school to learn & you wish Papunya had a swimming pool!
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)
In June 2022 we went to Ntaria to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You like Ntaria but you don’t like the fighting in community.
- There needs to be more shops or places for young people to be.
- You like all the sports that are available – would love for there to be grass on the oval!
Areyonga (Utju)
In June 2022 we went to Utju to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- The younger kids like going to school and learning in English and Pitjantjara.
- Some teenagers find it hard to go to boarding school, and then don't have school options in Utju.
- You like going out on bush trips and connecting with country and would love more opportunities to do this.
Llyentye Apurte
In October 2020 we went to Llyentye Apurte to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- You have a strong sense of self and can wisely articulate your aspirations.
- You want to learn and do well but sometimes there is a bad atmosphere at school or violence in the community.
- There should be more diverse activities for teenagers, that are affordable for everyone and tailored to your interests.
Alice Springs
In May 2022 we went to Alice Springs to hear about your lives, school and what you need for your future.
The BIG things you told us were:
- There is quite a few things for young people to do, but not a lot of places to hang out.
- Alice feels unsafe for young people.
- Young people want more leadership opportunities, guidance from adults, support from teachers.
