Founder

Marena's professional career began in 2012 after she completed her Bachelor degree in Social Sciences. Marena then secured her first professional role as a Youth Engagement Officer at a local community organization supporting refugees from Arabic-speaking backgrounds. 

Fluent in Arabic, Marena conducted programs in schools, community organizations, events, and forums within the community. She delivered programs in both Arabic and English, focusing on Healthy and Respectful Relationships, Respectful communication, Signs of an Unhealthy Relationships and the intersection of culture, demographics, and respectful relationships.

After working with refugees, Marena shifted her focus to asylum seekers, working in that field for the next four years. Her work primarily involved supporting clients with safe settlement and assimilation into Australian society. A significant part of her role was educating clients about acceptable behaviors and relationships in Australia. This included explaining what constitutes abuse and violent behaviors under Australian law. This experience further ignited Marena's interest in family and intimate partner violence, prompting her to pursue a career path in that area.

In 2017, Marena decided to delve deeper into her passion by accepting a role specialising in Family Violence within the justice system.  Becoming a subject matter expert in Family Violence Marena facilitated programs on family and intimate partner violence to security officers, public servants, and specialized family violence workers.

Marena then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Client Assessment and Case Management, with a specific focus on working with men who use violence. Marena became qualified as a Men's Behaviour Change Facilitator and has been facilitating group for 4 years. 

Now as a mother, wife and daughter, Marena decided to pursue her passion for family and intimate partner violence awareness and prevention by establishing Safety Starts With You Pty Ltd. This venture allowed her to create her own platform and expand her efforts in raising awareness about these issues and promoting prevention strategies.