feeling safe & free

Feeling Safe & Free is a series of innovative social change programs designed to tackle some of the most pressing social issues in our community.

Feeling Safe & Free for Young People is designed to equip young people with the knowledge, tools and skills they need to be able to navigate the world safely and freely.

Feeling Safe & Free for Parents & Carers is designed to help parents, guardians, carers and grandparents better understand the challenges facing young people and provide helpful tools so they can better support their young people.

Feeling Safe & Free at Work is a professional development and training program designed to address workplace safety and wellbeing.
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“In the last three years of knowing Marilyn, I have gained skills and experiences that have opened a multitude of doors. This can be expected of most good mentors. However, Marilyn has impacted me in far more meaningful ways. Being mentored by her is to be reminded of the reasons I do the work I do. She is an advocate, a thinker, a community-builder, a storyteller, a space-holder, an inspiration, a creative force, and someone who makes the world a better place each day. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to work with her.”
~ Indyana ~

Dr Marilyn Metta

Dr Marilyn Metta is the Creator and Director of the Feeling Safe and Free program. Feeling Safe and Free project emerged out of the pressing need and gap that she witnessed working with young people and families over the past 20 years. The program draws from two decades of professional practice, community engagement and consultation, and published scholarly research.

She is the Director & Founder of The Metis Centre. Marilyn is human rights educator, practitioner and advocate who is passionate about addressing the safety and wellbeing of women and children.

Marilyn is an expert in trauma recovery and has worked a practising trauma counsellor and facilitator with over 20 years experience working with young people and families from First Nations and culturally-diverse communities. She is an internationally renowned feminist academic, researcher and author who’s published widely on trauma, intimate abuse, coercive control, family violence and trauma recovery.

She was awarded the 2021 Westpac Social Change Fellowship for the Feeling Safe and Free social change initiative.

Marilyn is also the Founder of the Mettamorphosis Inc, a not-for-profit charitable organisation working to raise awareness and funds to provide access to education for refugee and stateless children and young people.

Marilyn is a specialised expert consultant on cultural, social and environmental impacts of colonisation and development on First Nations communities and Country.

culturally safe & responsive

Feeling Safe and Free is an innovative program that is specially designed for
young people from diverse backgrounds to support them in navigating the
world safely. The program is designed to be culturally responsive and safe
and is trauma-integrated.
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The program draws from Dr Meta's two decades of professional practice,
community engagement and consultation and published research.
We have specially designed programs for First Nations young people and
communities that draw from intergenerational wisdom, storytelling and
healing.

Marilyn is a specialised expert consultant on cultural, social and environmental impacts of colonisation and development on First Nations communities and Country.

Creative tools of storytelling

What’s unique about this program is the use of a range of interactive and creative storytelling tools, resources and media such as animation, puppetry, theatre, storytelling, and different forms of creative arts for young people to explore challenging but important issues around safe sex, healthy boundaries, respectful and safe relationships.