Our People
Shahleena Musk
Children’s Commissioner
Shahleena is a Larrakia woman from Darwin, Northern Territory and is the current Children’s Commissioner in the Office of the Children’s Comissioner NT. Shahleena has over two decades experience working in legal, policy and advocacy roles with a focus on child rights and youth justice.
Children's Commissioner
Shahleena Musk
Shahleena is a Larrakia woman from Darwin, Northern Territory and is the current Children’s Commissioner in the Office of the Children’s Comissioner NT. Shahleena has over two decades experience working in legal, policy and advocacy roles with a focus on child rights and youth justice.
Assistant Children's Commissioner
Nicole Hucks
Nicole is a Larrakia/Wadjigan and Eastern Arrernte Aboriginal woman from the NT. Nicole has defined her career in child and family welfare, with experience in child protection, care and protection research and program and policy development in Victoria and the NT.
Office Coordinater
Natalie Maher
Natalie is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the office including finance, travel, human resources support, governance and records management. Natalie has over 15 years of corporate services management experience.
Manager Monitoring & Investigations
Yvette Nicholls
Yvette began her career as a Youth Worker in the Torres Strait Islands and later progressed her knowledge and passion for working with children through the study of Behavioural Psychology. Yvette holds post graduate qualifications in Business. Yvette has worked in the fields of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, behaviour management, forensic disability, offender development, strategic project development and in her last role she rolled out the National Redress Scheme into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse for the Northern Territory Government. Yvette believes in the power of Aboriginal led decision making, culturally strong practice and trauma informed care!
Senior Monitoring and Investigations Officer
Sue McKittrick
Sue is responsible for investigations, monitoring and recommendations focused on continuous improvement in service delivery to vulnerable children and young people. Sue has worked directly with children in care and consulted with Aboriginal communities in WA, Qld, NT and NSW on social policy. In the Northern Territory Government Sue has worked in policy in domestic family and sexual violence, child protection, youth justice, homelessness and multicultural affairs.
Senior Monitoring and Investigations Officer
Jeremy Wong
Jeremy is responsible for making sure adults listen to the voices of vulnerable children. Jeremy wants adults to respond with hope, kindness and compassion. Jeremy is still looking for his lost elephant mascot Auggy, who has accompanied him on his travels to meet children all over the Territory. Jeremy wants to have big ears like an elephant to listen better with.
Senior Monitoring and Investigations Officer
Jessica Fernandes
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Manager Strategy, Rights & Advice
Danni Taylor
Danni started her career as a Social Worker in Darwin nearly 20 years ago and since then has worked with families and Aboriginal communities in WA and Vic. Danni’s job is to make sure that people making decisions about services for children and young people look at what is already working well and what children and young people think should happen.
Community Engagement & Communications Officer
James Cameron
James works to promote children’s rights and help their voices to be heard to decision makers and community. He has many years experience working in community engagement, and loves working around the Northern Territory with a diverse range of people.
Strategy and Rights Officer
Clare Patterson
Clare is responsible for research, policy advice and centring children at the core of all OCC work.Clare is passionate about children’s rights and has worked in this space for 7 years. Her favourite thing about her job is seeing change happen because of children’s participation.
Complaints Officer
Natalie Eaton
Natalie investigates complaints and assist the OCC in their monitoring activities. Natalie has 14 years’ experience in child protection and youth justice sector.