Erin Sweeny - Australian Psychologist

As the president of the Western Australia committee of the New Zealand and Australian Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, Erin Sweeny is making a real difference. Sweeny is also a member of the Western Australian subcommittee of the national committee of the College of Forensic Psychologists of the Australian psychological society. She was even recognized as one of the most influential women of 2016 by BBC for her work with sex offenders.

She joined the Western Australia Department of Corrective Service back in 1989 to be a part of the Sex Offender Treatment Unit and to work as a community corrections officer. According to Sweeny most sex offenders have an unhappy childhood, due to the neglect, abuse, absent or unengaged parenting.

However, Sweeny believes that most, if not all, sex offenders are treatable and can lead a normal life again. After working with sex offenders, she then worked in the United Kingdom for a few years before returning to her home to start a private practice.

The feminine name Erin is the Anglicized form of Eireann, which is from Éireann the genitive case of the Gaelic name Éire that means “Ireland”. The name has been popular as a given name since half way through the 20th century. Although it is mainly used as a female name it has been given to men around the world, from the United States to Wales. There are many different spellings of the name Erin, but the most common is the Anglicized version.