Patrick O'Leary

Professor Patrick O'Leary is a leading academic in social work and criminology at Griffith University's School of Human Services and Social Work. He holds significant leadership roles including Co-Lead of the Disrupting Violence Beacon and Director of the Violence Research and Prevention Program (VRPP), overseeing projects like the MATE Bystander Intervention. His research focuses on domestic violence, child protection, and the long-term impact of sexual abuse, with a global footprint spanning Australia, the US, Europe, and Asia. He has secured over $53 million in research funding and co-edits International Social Work and the Contemporary Social Work Studies series.

Educations:

• PhD in Social Work, Flinders University (1997–2003)
• Prior academic positions at the University of Southampton, Bath, and South Australia

Research Interests:

• Violence prevention and perpetrator intervention systems
• Child sexual abuse policy and practice
• Social work practice around hope and trauma
• Customary justice systems in international contexts

Grants & Advising Roles:

• ARC Centre of Excellence on Eliminating Violence Against Women (2023–2030)
• Advisory roles in Australia’s National Strategy on Child Sexual Abuse, Queensland Women’s Safety Taskforce, and UNICEF
• Supervised 20+ doctoral candidates focusing on domestic violence, child welfare, and migration

Labs & Collaborations:

• Griffith Criminology Institute
• International engagement with UNICEF, Terre des Hommes, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University