Dr Lhara Mullins

BA.,MA

Contact Details

Lecturer
St. Anthonys
University of Galway
E: lhara.mullins@universityofgalway.ie
Twitter: @lharamullins
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr. Lhara Mullins is a lecturer in Health Promotion at the University of Galway and Director of the BA Social Care Programme. Lhara's practice background stems from community care with older people (2006-2013), during which time she completed her BA in Social Care (Hons) (2010) and an MA in Social Work (2012), both at the University of Galway. Lhara completed the CELT postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning at the University of Galway in 2015 and obtained her PhD in 2023, within the Discipline of Health Promotion. Her PhD research relates to older people and homecare and Lhara's current research interests relate to disability, autism and neurodiversity. Lhara is active in all things equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) related on campus, and acts as a bullying support contact person for staff at the University of Galway, sits on the EDI Committee is a trained Mental Health First Aider. Lhara acts as the disability officer within the School of Health Sciences and has authored two books on the topic of autism and neurodiversity, in 2022 and 2024. She further provides unique and innovative autism awareness training to staff teams, both on campus and in the community. 

Research Interests

Autism, neurodiversity, disability, peer support, health promotion, marginalised groups. 

Books

  Year Publication
(2024) Supporting Neurodivergent Children and Families. A Guide for Practitioners.
Dr. Lhara Mullins (2024) Supporting Neurodivergent Children and Families. A Guide for Practitioners. New York: Routledge. [Details]
(2022) It takes a village: Navigating the journey of parenting your autistic child.
Mullins, L. (2022) It takes a village: Navigating the journey of parenting your autistic child. Dublin: Orpen Press. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2023) Integrated Foundation of Integrated Care Annual Conference
Mullins, L. (2023) Engaging with autistic children and their families: Strategies for effective partnerships Integrated Foundation of Integrated Care Annual Conference [Details]
(2017) Irish Gerontological Society Annual Conference
Mullins, L,Hodgins, M (2017) Older people and homecare: And one week nobody came at all.. it was really upsetting, I was watching the door Irish Gerontological Society Annual Conference [DOI] [Details]
(2017) Social Care Ireland annual conference: The changing face of social care
Power, M., Kelly, C., McKenna, V., Mullins, L., Gough, H., & Clare, C. (2017) Gatekeepers of competency: Practice educators/teachers and the competencies based regulatory framework Social Care Ireland annual conference: The changing face of social care Galway, , 22-MAR-17 - 22-MAR-17 [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2019) 'The day is long you know?: Older people's voices on their homecare experiences in Ireland'
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M. (2019) 'The day is long you know?: Older people's voices on their homecare experiences in Ireland' Journal of social care, 2 (1) . [Details]

Article

  Year Publication
(2021) The loneliness epidemic has been in Ireland long before Covid.
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M (2021) The loneliness epidemic has been in Ireland long before Covid. RTE Brainstorm: Article [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2023) National Child Protection and Welfare Conference,
Mullins, L. (2023) Autism and child protection social work practice: What you need to know. [Oral Presentation], National Child Protection and Welfare Conference, University College Cork , 26-OCT-23 - 27-OCT-23. [Details]
(2023) International Conference on Integrated Care,
Mullins, L. (2023) Engaging with autistic children and their families. Strategies for effective partnerships. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Integrated Care, Flanders, Belgium , 22-MAY-23 - 24-MAY-23. [Details]
(2023) AHEAD Annual Conference Croke Park Dublin,
Mullins, L. (2023) Empowering autistic students to succeed at third level: What can you do?. [Poster Presentation (Refereed)], AHEAD Annual Conference Croke Park Dublin, Dublin , 16-JAN-23 - 17-JAN-23. [Details]
(2023) The 11th European Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (EU-Safety 2023),
Mullins, L. (2023) Oral Presentation. [Oral Presentation], The 11th European Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (EU-Safety 2023), Reykjavik, Iceland , 04-OCT-23 - 06-OCT-23. [Details]
(2022) International Conference on Integrated Care 2022,
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M. (2022) The Fundamental Role of the Home-care Worker in the Lives of Community Dwelling Older People. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Integrated Care 2022, Odense , 10-MAY-22 - 11-MAY-23. [Details]
(2022) Health Promotion Annual Conference 2022,
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M. (2022) Oral presentation on homecare for older people in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Health Promotion Annual Conference 2022, Galway , 15-JUN-22 - 16-JUN-22. [Details]
(2018) Social Care Ireland: Working with Abilities and Strengths,
Mullins, L. & Molcho, M. (2018) Marginalised Children in Ireland: Addressing their Needs using an Asset Based Approach. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Social Care Ireland: Working with Abilities and Strengths, Athlone Ireland , 21-MAR-18 - 21-MAR-18. [Details]
(2018) Working with Abilities and Strengths,
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M. (2018) Having the Cup of Tea: The Power of Positive Relationships in Homecare for Older People. [Oral Presentation], Working with Abilities and Strengths, Athlone Ireland , 21-MAR-18 - 22-MAR-18. [Details]
(2018) Young People Mental Health and Mental Illness Conference (Social Care Ireland),
Mullins, L. (2018) Workshop Presentation: Mental Health Promotion for Children and Young People. [Invited Oral Presentation], Young People Mental Health and Mental Illness Conference (Social Care Ireland), Dublin , 09-MAR-18 - 09-MAR-18. [Details]
(2017) Social Care Ireland Conference,
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M. (2017) New Innovations in Home and Community Care for Older People. [Oral Presentation], Social Care Ireland Conference, Galway , 23-MAR-17 - 23-MAR-17. [Details]
(2017) British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference 2017,
Mullins, L. & Hodgins, M. (2017) Homecare and Older People in Ireland: The Case for Reform. [Oral Presentation], British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference 2017, Swansea , 05-JUL-17 - 05-JUL-17. [Details]
(2016) Health Promotion Conference 2016: Knowledge to Action: Using Research Evidence in,
Mullins, L. (2016) Research Prompting Change: Health Promotion in Homecare for Older People in Ireland. [Poster Presentation], Health Promotion Conference 2016: Knowledge to Action: Using Research Evidence in, NUI Galway , 15-JUN-16. [Details]
(2016) Social Care Ireland Conference,
Mullins, L. (2016) Older People and Homecare in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Social Care Ireland Conference, Meath , 15-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) The National Dementia Care Conference,
Mullins, L. (2016) Dementia Care in the Home and Supporting the Family. [Oral Presentation], The National Dementia Care Conference, Dublin , 02-MAR-16. [Details]
(2014) IPH Open Conference,
Mullins, L. (2014) Supporting Parents to Support their Children Living with Mental Health Difficulties. [Poster Presentation], IPH Open Conference, Belfast , 14-OCT-14. [Details]
(2014) Social Care Ireland Conference 2014,
Mullins, L. (2014) Suicide Prevention: What Works?. [Oral Presentation], Social Care Ireland Conference 2014, Cork , 01-APR-14. [Details]

Video recording / TV

  Year Publication
(2023) 3 things everyone should know about supporting an autistic child.
Mullins, L. (2023) 3 things everyone should know about supporting an autistic child. Video recording / TV [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Board of Directors Enable Ireland Board Member/Director 01-JAN-21 / 31-DEC-24
Equality, Inclusion, Diversity and Well-being Committee Committee Member 20-JUL-20 /
Comhairle na nOg Galway City Member of steering committee 21-JUN-17 /
Ballybane Rainbow Community Childcare Centre Board Member 26-JUN-11 / 22-JUN-17

Consultancy

  Client Description
SEDS Connective
A charity based organisation who provide supports and resources to people living with symptomatic hypermobility and neurodivergent people. SEDS Connective raise awareness and provide education and advocacy. I am an education and lived experience adviser.

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland Galway Lecturer Above the Bar 05-JAN-14 /
University of Galway Tutor and Module Writer 15-JUN-12 / 20-DEC-13
HSE West Community care for older people 04-SEP-06 / 25-NOV-13

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Training. 11-JAN-23 /
Outreach Mental Health Promotion 09-MAR-17 /

Reviews

  Journal Role
International Journal Of Integrated Care Reviewer

Other Activities

  Description

Certified training on: Suicide Assist; Children's First; Mental Health First Aid; Bully Support; Autism and ADHD; Manual Handing; Evacuation Chair; Data Protection. Short training courses on: Workplace Diversity; Child Sexual Abuse; Continence Care; Manual Handling; Social Media; Nvivo; Research Methods; End Note; Traveller Cultural Awareness; Active Bystander; Leadership.

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2023 University of Galway PhD Health Promotion-Homecare for Older People
2016 NUIG Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education Teaching and Learning
2012 NUIG MA in Social Work Social Work
2010 NUIG BA Social Care Hons Social Care

Teaching Interests

Social care, health promotion, ethics, autism, working with older people, homecare/care in the community, working with children and young people, disability,