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Dr. Leigh-Ann Sweeney

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)
      
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Dr. Leigh-Ann Sweeney

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)

 sweenele@tcd.ie

 


Dr Leigh-Ann Sweeney is a social work academic, researcher, and registered CORU social worker. Dr Sweeney is Course Director of the Bachelor in Social Studies (Social Work) at Trinity College Dublin, where she teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate social work programmes and supervises Master's and PhD researchers. Dr Sweeney`s research examines how gender, power, structural inequality, and social policy shape individual and collective experiences, with particular expertise in sex work, feminist social work, and sexual and reproductive health. Drawing together perspectives from social work, health promotion, sociology, philosophy, and feminist scholarship, her work challenges individualised explanations of social problems and foregrounds the structural conditions through which inequality, marginalisation, and disadvantage are produced and sustained. Dr Sweeney has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and scholarly collections, produced commissioned research reports, contributed to funded research collaborations, and presented her work internationally. Her scholarship has contributed to national and international debates concerning sex work, gender inequality, structural oppression, victim-blaming, and feminist approaches to social work education and practice. A central concern across her work is strengthening the relationship between research, policy, professional practice, and the lived experiences of communities affected by inequality. Dr Sweeney is co-founder and board member of the Irish Sex Work Research Network, through which she has helped advance interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, and evidence-informed dialogue on sex work, policy, and gender equality. Within Trinity College Dublin, she has co-chaired the Athena Swan Committee in the School of Social Work and Social Policy and serves on the School Research Ethics Committee, contributing to wider institutional work on equality, research integrity, and inclusive academic practice. Prior to joining Trinity, Dr Sweeney was Lecturer Above the Bar in Social Work at Atlantic Technological University (formerly the Institute of Technology, Sligo), where she contributed to the development and delivery of the first Master of Social Work programme within Ireland's Institute of Technology sector. Her academic work is informed by extensive professional practice experience across medical social work, probation services, children in care, and family support. Dr Sweeney holds a PhD from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and a Master of Social Work from the School of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Galway. Following her doctorate, she undertook postdoctoral research across Psychology and Medicine and Health Sciences within the Health Promotion Research Centre. Her academic journey began as a mature student with a Certificate in Women's Studies at University College Dublin, an experience that established the feminist and social justice perspectives that continue to underpin her research, teaching, and professional practice. Across her research, teaching, leadership, and mentorship, Dr Sweeney is committed to advancing critical, feminist, and socially just approaches to social work and to producing scholarship that connects academic knowledge with policy, practice, and meaningful social change.
Project Title
 An Investigation into Marginalised Women"s Experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme
From
October 2025
To
June 2026
Summary
The aim of qualitative research study was to investigate women"s awareness and experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme to date, in addition to exploring women"s attitudes towards contraception more broadly. The research focused on marginalised women, including Traveller women, disabled women, migrant women, LGBTIQ+ individuals.
Funding Agency
Commisioned by the Department of Health and the National Women's Council
Project Title
 Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers
From
December 2023
To
May 2026
Summary
The aim of the study was to build evidence of the effectiveness of the BUSS® Model with children in foster care, their foster carers and social workers to inform therapeutic services for children in care as a part of the new Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022-2025. BUSS LEAPlets® is a relationship-based, physical, sensory and emotional developmental program of early intervention
Funding Agency
Commissioned by The Department of Children, Disability and Equality and IFCA
Project Title
 A scoping study to explore how social work educators understand and apply interdisciplinary teaching and learning (IDTL-SW).
From
2023
To
2024
Summary
The aim the project was to undertake an all-Ireland scoping study to explore how social work educators understand and apply interdisciplinary teaching and learning (IDTL-SW)` in collaboration with our colleagues at TCD, UCD, ATU Sligo, UCC, UU, MU and QUB.
Project Title
 Understanding the structural oppression of sex workers: towards informing critical social work education
From
2026
To
2027
Summary
The purpose of this study is to examine sex work and social work from an Irish standpoint. The study is twofold (a) to understand social workers knowledge and experiences with sex workers (b) to understand sex workers. The central research question seeks to provide a revised framework for conceptualising the relationship between systems of oppression and sex workers, and to inform curriculum design. the study is in the data collection phase.
Funding Agency
Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund
Project Title
 Urban-Rural Variation in Cancer-Related Outcomes of Cancer Survivors in the west of Ireland
From
2015
To
2017
Summary
Investigated the impact of follow-up after care for survivors within the community with a focus on the role of the GP, and sociological perspectives. Qualitative methods are used. The results determined the barriers and facilitators for GPs and whether there is a case for alternative models for follow-up after cancer treatment.
Funding Agency
Health Research Board (HRB)

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Details Date
External Examiner BSc (Hons) Social Work (Relevant Graduate Route Ulster University 2023-2026
Co-Chair Athena Swan (SAT) School of Social Work and Social Policy Trinity College Dublin 2023-2026
Deputy Chair Athena Swan (SAT) Institute of Technology Sligo 2019-2021
Board Member Irish Sex Work Research Network 2014 - to date
Elected Member Academic Council Institute of Technology Sligo 2020-2021
Expert Academic Irish Government Consultations on Prostitution Legislation 2012
Details Date From Date To
Registered Social Worker: Registration Number SW027599 CORU - Health & Social Care Professionals Council, Ireland 2018 to date
Social Work Research and Education Forum [SWREF] 1019 to date
Irish Sex Work Research Network [ISWRN] 2014 to date
Sweeney, L.A. and Flynn, S., Exploring feminist egalitarian discourse and sex work for the social work curriculum: A critical pedagogy, Critical and Radical Social Work, 14, (1), 2026, p23 - 41, Notes: [DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/20498608Y2024D000000045], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Sweeney, LA, The Closure of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI): Implications for Sex Work and Social Work, Affilia, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sweeney, LA.,, Neo-abolitionist radical feminist perspectives on sex work: implications for social work education., Critical and Radical social work, 2026, p1"10 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sweeney, LA, Feminist Social Work with Simone de Beauvoir: Ethics, Ambiguity, and Sex Work, Affilia, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Gallagher, N, Doyle, M., Mooney, J., Chen, X., McCaughren, S., Sweeney, LA. Kirwan, G., Naylor, R., Swords, C. ,, How educators understand and apply interdisciplinary and interprofessional teaching and learning in Social Work programmes in Ireland, Journal of Social Work Education, 2026, Journal Article, ACCEPTED
Sweeney, LA., Sweeney Batard, B., A Place for Social Work in the Truth and Reconciliation Process An Exposition of the Northern Ireland Conflict, Irish Social Worker, 2026, Journal Article, ACCEPTED
Mooney, J,. Naylor, R., Gallagher, N, Doyle, M., Chen, X., McCaughren, S., Sweeney, LA. Kirwan, G., Swords, C. ,, Interdiciplinary teaching and learning in social work education across the island of Ireland, European Conference of Social Work Education, Aberdeen, Scotland, 15-17 April, 2026, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  URL
Sweeney, L.A., Flynn, S., Callan, A. and Nudo, M.,, An Investigation into Women's Experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme: Research Project Report, April, 2026, Report, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sweeney LA., Moran, L., Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets® Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers, 2026, Report, ACCEPTED
Sweeney, LA., and Flynn, S., Understanding the Structural Oppression of Sex Workers: Toward Informing Social Work from an Irish Standpoint,, Affilia, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

Page 1 of 3
Sweeney, L-A., 'Respecting sex workers agency does not diminish the commitment to tackling exploitation', 2026, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Sweeney, L-A., 'Significant Gaps in the Free Contraception Scheme', 2026, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Sweeney, L-A., 'One-third of women in Ireland face barriers accessing free contraception', 2026, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
Sweeney, L-A., Moran, L., Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets® Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have " Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers, Research Briefing & Launch Evaluating the Impact of BUSS® LEAPlets Early Intervention Groupwork, Online, 28th of September 20, 2026, Irish Foster Care association, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Flynn, S. & Sweeney, L A,., Understanding the Awareness and Experiences of Women with Disabilities about a Free Contraception Scheme., assets-eu.researchsquare.com, 2026, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED
Sweeney, LA., Moran, L., Summary Report: Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets® Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers, 2026, Report, ACCEPTED
Sweeney, LA., The lived Experiences of Sex Workers in Ireland: Understanding Sex Work for Social Work, National Local Authority Social Work Conference, Dublin, 9th of November, 2023, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Sweeney, L A.,, The psychosocial experiences of women involved in prostitution: an exploratory study., Society for the study of sexually transmitted diseases. Regional Spring Meeting, Galway, 2014, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Sweeney, L A.,, Prostitution, Sex Work and Sexual Violence, " 3rd International Conference on Survivors of Rape, ICSoR, National University of Ireland Galway, 2012, 2012, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Sweeney, L A., An Exploratory Study of the Psychosocial Health needs and Experiences of Sex Workers in Ireland, 20th World Congress on Sexual Health, Glasgow, 2011, 2011, Conference Paper, PRESENTED

  


Award Date
Galway Research Fellowship / Galway Doctoral Research Scholarship 2009- 2014
Aurora Leadership Development Programme 2020