McSweeney was born in Bridgetown, Western Australia. She was educated at Bridgetown and Manjimup high schools, and gained a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Sociology.[2]
McSweeney was the Minister for Child Protection, Community Services, and Seniors and Volunteering, having held these portfolios as shadow minister prior to the Coalition's election in 2008.[3] During her time in office, she was also Minister for Youth and Minister for Women’s Interests.[4]
In 2015, she published the biography of her great-grandfather, Albert Edmund Cockram, an importer of racehorses.[5][6]