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Why we don’t talk about Moral Injury: A missing occupational domain among Speech Pathologists

Thursday, May 21, 2026
1:20 PM - 1:40 PM

Speaker

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Dr. Katie L Buckley
Director, Office Of Cancer Education
Peter McCallum Cancer Centre

Why we don’t talk about Moral Injury: A missing occupational domain among Speech Pathologists

Abstract Document

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are healthcare professionals who support clients/patients’ communication-related health and wellbeing across the life span. Indeed, SLPs are often a critical part of acute, mental health, rehabilitation, and disability support teams. However, SLPs work-related health and safety does not typically address moral injury (MI). This occurs despite the overlap between many MI concepts and SLP work-related biopsychosocial-spiritual impacts. Such concepts include leadership betrayal, lack of trust in work organisations, reduced meaning and purpose, and alienation /diminished relatedness. Further, SLPs may be at increased risk of vicarious trauma from disclosures, due to providing services focused on effective communication and therapeutic alliance. This paper provides details on what should be considered for SLPs with regard to MI and thus explores more broadly MI beyond SLPs to other allied health occupations.

Biography

Katie is the Director Cancer Education (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre), a Fellow at the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology (University of Melbourne), and a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist. Katie is a global leader in health education, human factors/ergonomics, and collaboration for workforce thriving. Katie also holds expertise in international advisory, global workforce development, and collaboration to enhance complex systems. Katie’s sector experience includes academia, education, health, industry, WHS, and crown/government spheres. Katie regularly publishes and presents across diverse health related domains, including human communication sciences, vocal ergonomics, systems thinking, Good Work Design, and collaborative approaches for health and education.
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