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10 steps for getting relaxed about stress
We look at 10 ways to deal with the stress of chronic pain.
The patient's mouth
Getting the information you need to facilitate RTW shouldn't be as painful as pulling teeth--you just need to get zen and ask the right questions...
Adventures in leadership
Read Mary’s guide to fearless RTW Coordination leadership, then take up our Choose Your Own Adventure Leadership Challenge!
Signs of suicide
How to look out for and deal with signs of suicide in your workplace.
Take this health message to heart
Avoid heart disease with this fact sheet and our top tips for a healthy workplace.
Tongue-tied?
Ten tips to loosen your tongue and ease your mind when that big presentation looms.
Breathing easy
Asthma is the leading chronic disease in Australia. This briefing paper covers the basics, as well as occupational risk factors and risk management.
Premium troubles?
We chat to Michael Simpson from OccCorp about how you can reduce your premium AND meet your obligations to workers.
Fact sheet: Plantar fasciitis
Painful inflammation of the heel and foot.
Determined to RTW
A truck driver with a recurring knee injury doesn't let setbacks keep him out of the cabin in this SA case study
Run off your feet?
RTW Coordinators who manage time well do better. What are the secrets to good time management?
Chronic disease snapshot
In Australia and globally, preventable chronic diseases are on the rise. What does this mean for employers?

Let's get loud
Taking ages to recover and return to regular duties after a workers' compensation claim? Make some noise!
Rehab Providers a mystery to you?
This Q&A for employers covers the Who, What, When and How of Rehabilitation Providers
"W_T_F is workers' comp?!" Part 4
Part 4 - Return to work, return to normal
Acupuncture explained
Researchers now know how tiny, drug-free needles kill pain. This briefing paper covers what acupuncture is, and what it's good for.
Case study: Changing gears
Motorcycle mechanic Craig can't wait to get back to work after breaking his femur and heel. Is his old job still suitable?
Motivate yourself, motivate your team
A RTW coordinator's busy role can often put them at risk of stalling. We look at how to shift motivation up a gear.
Q&A CONFIDENTIALITY
Shh! The low-down on confidentiality, return to work and workers' comp.
"W_T_F is workers' comp?!" Part 3
Small Business series - Attitudes and People handling.
Opioids: Q & A
Are opioids a safe and effective treatment for acute pain? How about chronic pain? What are the risks and benefits?
"W_T_F is workers' comp?!" Part 2
Small Business series Part 2: The nuts and bolts.
Invisible injury
When it comes to "invisible injury", what you CAN'T see CAN hurt you--and your RTW prospects. How can the workplace help?

8 tips for a great relationship - working with the claims manager
We respond to a Return to Work Coordinator's query about resolving problems between employers and insurers.
Not a Good Week?
Dispatch from the desk of a RTW Coordinator, tackling re-injury and a nasty case of badweekitis.
"W_T_F is workers' comp? Part 1"
Small Business series
The good, the bad, the ugly: Round three
Who comes out saddles blazing when Comcare takes on the ACT and QLD in the third installment of our jurisdictional website comparison?
I'm having communication strain with back pain
Responding to a reader's request for help to help
What is process related injury?
Sometimes compensation systems, not injury, deliver the knock out blow. Don't let that happen to your workers!
Dealing with the victim mentality
In response to a reader's questions, our resident Occ Phys explains how to encourage a proactive approach to return to work.
The good, the bad, the ugly: Round 2
How do VIC, TAS and the NT stack up in our comparison of workers' comp jurisdictional websites?
Are workplace activities harmful?
Despite growing perceptions that workplace activities cause and complicate injuries, the evidence suggests the opposite.
And the biggest RTW challenge is...
RTW Coordinators nominate the top RTW challenges faced by employers, workers and treating practitioners
Pilot injured in helicopter crash flies again
'Get back into work mode' is the advice of pilot John Carroll, who was injured at work in a helicopter accident.
The good, the bad, the ugly: Round 1
We compare Australian workers' comp / RTW websites. First up: NSW, WA, and SA.
Train for success
Workers expect more from supervisors than supervisors are prepared to give - but training can build a RTW bridge!
Case study: Seaman sinks stress in deep blue
Longtime seaman Ivan Verschuur says no to bullying and abuse at work.
Employees not coping with pain
Understanding how peoples' distress can interfere with their recovery is the key to addressing difficult RTW cases.
Do occ docs do it better?
If patients who see an occupational doctor get better results, why isn't it common practice?
Common causes of workplace pain
Understanding musculoskeletal pain will increase productivity and health.
Employers' ten RTW commandments
Simple, straightforward guidelines for ensuring injured employees have access to all their legal entitlements.
Doctor, doctor give them the news
Why don't doctors communicate well when returning patients to work? Let's consider ways of helping them to.
Discrimination, harassment and RTW
How can employers avoid real (or perceived) discrimination and harassment during the RTW process?
More than medical
Some people have a harder time managing their injury and returning to work than others. Are medical issues usually responsible?
Just how painful is injury reporting?
Knowing when injury reports should be made and how they should be dealt with can reduce the pain and strain of the process...
Strategic implementation Q&A
How to take the long view and get where you want to go, faster.
RTW Coordinators, be true to yourselves!
Figuring out whether you're a team player or a solo flier, a nurturer or a strategist can make your job a whole lot easier...
Quick guide: Avoiding litigation
Don't send yourself--or your worker--to the dogs! Fair in-house systems can keep claims out of court.
Health and productivity in smaller workplaces
You can't afford hit and miss. What works, what doesn't and how can you market tried and true solutions to your employees?
Nursing a healthy return to work journey
Take 10 factors for RTW success and 10 for failure. Click on the ones you want to achieve - or remedy - and uncover the clues!
Disability management pegged: Part 3
Iron out problems by taking action
Recovery from spinal surgery
Spine surgeons who've had spinal surgery provide the know-how for this briefing paper on recovery and RTW.
Disability management pegged: Part 2
Identify "dirty" laundry and take it to the cleaners
What's with 'That Department'?
Want something done at work? It helps to know what and who you're working with. Start by asking yourself these questions...
Disability management pegged: Part 1
You don't have to hang anybody out to dry to get your systems pegged. Instead, make plans and make friends.
How to win change and influence people
A change is as good as a holiday, right? Keep the post-summer break blues at bay. Implement change where it's needed.
Quick Guide: self efficacy
Not every injured or ill worker has the "I think I can" attitude of the Little Engine That Could. But you can get them there!
Three attitudes that WON'T help return to work
Not yet a RTW pro? A tip: avoid these three attitudes when dealing with an injured worker.

Return to Work Matters Strategic Summer Reading Package
Three volumes of RTWMatters Greatest Hits to get you pointed in the right direction
Resolving long-term claims
We profile a success story in identifying and dismantling non-medical barriers to RTW at Concord Hospital, NSW
A quick guide to managing cases
The who, what, where, when of RTW case management
Top ten ways to reduce sick leave
Keep workers and reduce sick leave with a dose of sick leave sugar (and a dash of lemon!)
Shouldering on
A fact sheet about shoulder pain, including workplace contributions and solutions
Tennis elbow fact sheet
A down-the-line serve about work and tennis elbow, including good news about recovery and prevention.
Eight RTW mantras to get you through
Hand-selected return to work mantras to help your RTW experience run more smoothly.
Signs of employee disengagement
Advice on how to bite the signs of disengagement - before they bite you
Fact sheet: Medical certification in Australia
Sickness certificates can be dangerous. Proceed with caution!
Suspicious Minds
Tips for supervisors who have their doubts about a worker's injury or compensation claim.
How YOU can take charge of RTW
A fact sheet for injured workers
Anxiety Q&A 3: Working with anxiety
This final installment provides tips for helping anxious employees maintain their cool and remain at work.
Come on get happyyy!
Want a better workplace? Get happier. Here are some pointers on how.
Anxiety Q&A Part 2: The costs
In part two of this three part series, we look at the personal, economic and work-related costs of anxiety.
Want to be a back pain superhero?
This comprehensive guide to helping workers with back pain will have you donning lycra in no time...
Anxiety Q&A Part 1: The basics
tips for helping anxious employees maintain their cool and remain at work.
What is a RTW coordinator?
Jack of all trades? Conjurer of motivation and modified duties? Piggy in the middle? We lay it all out on the table...
Suspicious about a claim at your small business?
There are three golden rules for small business owners who doubt the work-relatedness of an injury...
Highway to hell?
What's it like to enter the workers' comp system as an ill or injured worker?

Back Pain & RTW - a knowledge bomb
Everything you need to know about back pain and rtw in one hit!
Communicating with "The System"
Workers struggle to listen and be heard. How does this affect them?
Locating the presence of presenteeism
Want to deal with presenteeism properly? Know what you're dealing with.
Trouble communicating? Stop talking: Listen!
A quick guide to the advantages and basic techniques of active listening.
Fact sheet: PSYCHO WHAAT? PSYCHOSOCIAL!
The most common barriers to RTW are "psychosocial". Getting to know them makes it possible to overcome them.
Disability doesn't prevent RTW
The considerable abilities of disabled workers are often overlooked when all the workplace needs is a "tweak"
It's time to reconceptualise injury management
Rethinking things: Professor Niki Ellis says we need to consider why we're failing on a few fronts in workers' comp and RTW.
Shaw sheds light on factors promoting good RTW
Unsure about best practices in RTW? Shaw isn't. The US expert lends his voice of authority to a discussion of fast, effective RTW.
What lessons from a room full of RTW Coordinators?
Lessons gained from a room of RTW Coordinators include making sure the role is more than just an add-on - read on for more!

Return To Work Monitor Summaries
A package of articles summarising the return to work outcomes and trends drawn from the Heads of Workers' Compensation Authorities Return To Work Monitor
Dealing with downsizing
A quick guide to minimising negative impacts of downsizing on workers' comp claims and return to work.
When the doctor says "no" to return to work
Feel like you've hit a brick wall? Practical tips to help you chisel away at it...
RTW relationship hurdles 2: Doctors and employers
Hurdling with a briefcase is tough, so why not dismantle RTW relationship barriers before they trip you up?
Bullying in Australian workplaces: Q&A
Bullying is bad for workplace health and bad for RTW. How widespread is it, and how does it impact on the field?
RTW relationship hurdles 1: Doctors and employers
Part One - What are the barriers to good doctor / employer relationships?
Who at your work would make the best RTW coordinator?
How do employers know who is the right staff member to delegate the role of RTW coordinator?
Juggling RTW and performance issues?
These practical industry insights will save you from having to grow an extra pair of arms...
Strategic planning - how can I and why should I?
Arranging resources helps to achieve long-term workplace objectives. Here's how to make injury management planning work.
Stalled RTW?
This simple checklist will help you pinpoint the problem and jump start the process.
Motivational mojo medicine
RTW motivation can be hard to muster...Unless you've had your dose of the RTWMatters motivational mojo!
"Getting back is the best"
Aged care worker, Donna Taylor, remains positive by taking on an admin role following an injury at work.
To schmooze or not to schmooze?
There's no question about it, injured workers need special treatment. Employers, here are ten ways to show workers you care...
Why base rehab in the workplace?
If you're having trouble convincing injured or ill workers that early return to work is the best option, there are 5 things they need to know...
Stress - a knowledge bomb
All the info, in one big hit!
Overloaded employees underperform
Why it's worth noticing when employees feel overloaded - and what you can do about it.
6 simple apathy busters
Supervisors apathetic about RTW? You gotta bust that apathy asap!
How to recognise if you're "in the zone" at work
Missing the zing in your step? Here's some help to refresh at work and steps to getting in the work groove.
Only know the bare bones about arthritis?
Flesh out your arthritis knowledge with a to-the-point briefing paper...
Top ten things to avoid in RTW
Maximise the chances of great RTW outcomes by avoiding these factors that hold up the process.
How to tip the balance AWAY from claims for strains and sprains
Practical tips for reducing musculoskeletal claims
What do RTW Professionals need to know about CBT?
The basics of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and how it can be used to resolve difficult RTW cases.
Who gets involved in modifying duties - and how?
Who has control over organising modified duties in your workplace - and what are the pros and cons of having them in charge?
The human face of WorkCover: from truckie to carer
Senior writer with WorkCover SA shares a great case study that shows RTW is always worth the hard work to get there.
What skills do I need as a RTW Coordinator?
And how do I get those skills? Are they the same for Coordinators in companies of all sizes?
I'm a RTW Coordinator and my work won't listen to me!
What approaches can you take in the all-too-common situation of needing to convince others that good RTW is worth the effort?
Q&A: The first five minutes
What happens in the first five minutes after injury affects health outcomes and costs. And your time starts...
Top ten reasons to have a health and wellbeing program
Need some ammunition to make the case for investment in health and wellbeing? Look no further than our latest top ten...

I'm new to the game...
Finished the training but lack on-field experience in RTW? We'll have you kicking goals in no time!
Seeking: a doctor who talks and listens
How to recognise doctors who are good communicators - and why it's in your interest to seek them out.
Sprains and strains causing RTW pain?
How-to Guide: Using modified duties to promote durable return to work.
Won't stand for another work risk?
Fair enough - but you might not want to take this RTW news sitting down.
Asleep on the job
Missing a tram stop is the last thing fatigued workers should be worrying about. Try diabetes, heart disease, depression...
Conflict Cookie #4: Making the most of conflict
Conflict driving you crazy? Use it to drive innovation...
Manage people, not musculoskeletal symptoms
Ignoring the non-physical causes of musculoskeletal problems leads to very poor outcomes in this all too familiar case study.
Is THE MAN responsible for MY health?
Healthy choices aren’t always easy choices. Whose responsibility is workplace health?
What are the ingredients for success in RTW?
Getting the right mix is never easy but hearing how other people have succeeded in return to work helps. A WorkSafe officer offers her advice.
Fit notes innovative yet blindingly obvious
It's a shame that something so clearly benefitial to injured workers is being done by so few.
Dos and Don'ts for workplace health during the recession
A short guide to surviving the recession for busy RTW and OHS professionals.
Employees tough to budge on workplace health?
Dr Steve Beller says ‘Joy of living’ is a much more powerful motivator than ‘fear of illness and death’.
Six Workers' comp pearls of wisdom: a tough gig creates good advice
Workers' comp is a tough gig - tougher still when you're looking after a company covering almost all of Queensland. What helps? Read on to find out.
Health intervention gets outta town!
At 10 000 steps a day, healthy creativity goes a LONG way...
Conflict Cookie #3: Managing conflict
It's a waste to sweep cookie crumbs under the carpet, and the same goes for conflict. Don't ignore workplace conflict: manage it.
Gluttons for punishment? Talking work and psychosis at Mind
Ever wondered what it might be like to work with a mental illness, let alone return to work after a psychotic episode? We spoke to a group of people who've done it - and some of what they told us might surprise you.
Caught in the spotlight: Pacific Film and Television Corporation, stress claims and "reasonable management action"
What happens when WorkCover decides that workplace bullying - which your doctor tells you is responsible for your skyrocketing blood pressure and increasing reactive arthritis flare-ups - is actually "reasonable management action"?
Zeroing in on risky business: Hazard assessment and musculoskeletal disorders
We take a look at the non physical work factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders
Returning to work? Ten tips to help you survive the system!
Getting back to work after illness or injury can be daunting. Stick to our top ten, however, and not only will you survive - you'll thrive.
WorkCover SA: can it be fixed?
Only time will tell whether the Rann government's WorkCover reforms are on the money or off the rails.
CONFLICT COOKIE #2 Recognising conflict
Recognising conflict BEFORE you trip over it is essential for managing successful return to work.
Small business, big problems?
Smaller businesses don't necesarily have fewer problems with return to work - simply different ones. The Australian Industry Group's Tracey Browne talks us through the variations.
Good RTW ain't easy - but boy is it worth it
Work can't stop when results improve. In this interview with an Injury Management specialist, we learn that creating the right RTW culture needs to be a continuous process - or else everyone pays.
Top ten easy steps for improving workplace culture
Good workplace culture fosters loyal employees who want to remain at their workplace.
Let's get ethical, ethical
A code of ethics would have helped former return to work coordinator 'Layla' to educate injured workers and combat an investigate-happy manager.
You don't have to bend over backwards to benefit from workplace flexibility
Employers don't have to bend over backwards to reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. Just get flexible!
Not good enough: SA's WorkCover losses unacceptable
Things in South Australia have gone from bad to worse.
CONFLICT COOKIE #1 What kinds of conflict happen in the workplace?
Remember how your mum taught you to turn lemons into lemonade? In this series of bite-sized articles, we make cookies out of conflict!
DON'T follow the leader: Cranky pants Rudd illustrates the importance of a healthy work / life balance
A little disrespect goes a long way. Our work-obsessed PM takes time out mid flight to illustrate why we all need to work, rest and play.
What's more painful than chronic pain? Chronic pain in 'The System'
Workers' comp and RTW systems can exacerbate chronic pain, but as Coralie Wales from Chronic Pain Australia explains, that's not the end of the story...
Investigating an occupational stress claim? Say goodbye early intervention and hello long term claim!
All too often, the Process Steamroller pushes stressed employees into the Chasm of Long Term Claims. We talk - seriously - with Dr Rod Gutierrez about the slapstick of occupational stress.
On the clock and over the hill? Ageing workers in physical industries
We can't turn back the clock, but we can offer advice on how to minimise the impact of age on "work ability" in physically intensive industries.
Top ten tips for dealing with the Doc
"Bad medicine" delaying RTW at your organisation? Our latest top ten will help sweeten your relationship with medical practitioners...
KPI vs care - which is winning?
A process-driven acrimonious workers' compensation system is a dark place - let's shed some light to turn things around.
Nice move, N.I.C.E.
The UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is moving in a positive direction, with new guidelines to help employees on long-term sickness absence return to work.
Let's introduce mental health first aiders in the workplace.
Want some questions about depression at work answered? Check out our interview with Dr Fehmidah Munir, one of the UK researchers responsible for the Loughborough University's study into the role of depression in returning to work.
Backing up case management with software
Intuition Software's Paul Eastman gets technical, explaining the ins and outs of an underused resource - workers comp software.
Waste not, want not
According to a new study to emerge from the UK, employers are squandering their workers' talents.
Top ten tips for super smooth supervising of RTW
Supervising return to work ain't easy...unless you've read our latest top ten!
Top ten tips to keep you on track when managing a stress claim.
To help an employee return to work after a stress claim, our ten tips start with proactivity and care. Read on!
Helping those who help
In a presentation given at the 2009 Workers' Compensation Summit in Melbourne, Jackie Burke discussed vicarious trauma and how her workplace is helping employees combat its effects.
DIY injury management brings home the bacon for Heinz
HJ Heinz Australia takes injury management in-house with remarkable results
Diamond discovered while down in the dumps about return to work.
A new UK report finds that RTW depression is widespread, even when physical illness is the reason for work absence. Employers can make a difference.
Going back to your own workplace is going down, down, down
Over the last 11 years, the rate of return to the pre-injury employer has been in decline. Last year, the rate of return to same duties also hit a new low. What's going on?
Top ten tips for preventing long term claims
Changes to your injury management system can help reduce claim duration.
RTW performance VS funding performance
Do scheme funding improvements necessarily lead to improvements in RTW rates and duration?
The scientific method: Successful health and wellbeing strategies at the CSIRO.
A tailored, best practice Health and Well Being program.
Returning to work in the Netherlands: a different approach
Dutch occupational physician Frederieke Schaafsma describes a new Netherlands system of return to work that has seen the number of employees on long-term sick leave dramatically reduced.
Early intervention and good communication: everyone's responsibilities. The top points from the Dr William Shaw interview.
Take a look at the ten main points to emerge from RTW Matters' interview with Dr William Shaw from the US's Centre for Disability Research, Liberty Mutual.
What's the point of national workers comp harmony if you can't harmonise with your employee?
ACTU's national workers' compensation officer Jarrod Moran spoke at February's National Workers' Compensation Summit on 'Unions, workers' compensation and the way forward'.
Employee engagement vs employee enragement
Employee engagement expert James Adonis speaks about his study of 2,400 employee, and how to retain employees and create a positive workplace environment.
How to be a trauma-ready employer
We talk trauma, recovery in the workplace and PTSD with Professor Mark Creamer from the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health.
Claimants rate Australian insurers' customer service
What do injured workers want from their insurers? According to the 11th RTW Monitor, a good attitude goes a long way - and Queensland shows us just how far.

The Return to Work Coordinators' Code of Ethics
After return to work coordinators expressed to us a lack of formal guidance in their role as coordinators, and - more specifically - the lack of a Code of Ethics - we set about developing one.
Disability discrimination reform: A fair go or an unfair burden on employers?
Ms Jill Hall MP - Government Whip and erstwhile disability rehabilitation counsellor - gives us her perspective on reforms currently before the Senate.
10th Annual National Workers' Compensation Summit: debriefing
While others got excited about the Oscars, RTW Matters got wound up about the host of interesting speakers at this years Workers' Compensation Summit.
Nurses Return to Work in Hospitals Project
Project Officer of the Nurses Return to Work in Hospitals Project, Julia Suban, talks about the particular barriers to return to work in nursing, and just how she hopes they can be overcome.
Pilot program puts the "occupational" into "physiotherapy" - and shows results
Occupational Physiotherapist Dr Andrew Fischer is part of a pilot program designed to improve return to work outcomes for patients.
Australian workers' comp overview: Can money buy RTW?
We use the latest Comparative Performance Monitoring Report to take a look at how money is spent within Australia's workers' compensation system: and suggest that penny pinching is sometimes good for your health!
What is the value of research?
A look at why money spent on researching health is money spent well.
Top ten tips to help employees with depression
Productive employment probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of depression. But helping employees with depression stay at work is good for everybody. Our top ten tips show you how it's done...
Opening the door to productive workers: Government policy, RTW and mental illness
Simon Tatz, from the Mental Health Council of Australia, lays down the law about mental illness and inclusive RTW
Top ten tips for preventing stress in your workplace
What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace? Prevent it from ever occurring! Our ten tips show you how.

A sneak peak at some ground-breaking research
Dr William Shaw takes us behind the (research) scenes at Liberty Mutual in the US.
Coping after a traumatic event
Techniques to cope with the emotional and physical symptoms of experiencing a traumatic event.
Business as usual: Managing RTW and psychiatric disability
Dr Geoffrey Waghorn tells us about the importance of employment for people with severe mental illness - and how it's best achieved by simple, everyday good management.
What is evidence based medicine and why do we need it?
What does "evidence based medicine" refer to exactly, and why should we care to know?
Test: retaining your best employees
Take this test to see if you or your employees are feeling how they ought to in the workplace. The test highlights the key factors in retaining star staff-members.
When return to work fails: an all too common case study
This case study looks at a young man with a long career ahead of him and the reasons he will probably never return to his job.
Adding insult to injury: Are Aussie workplaces helping or hindering RTW?
The 11th RTW Monitor highlights the 'make or break' role of supervisors and employers in RTW
Help create a Code of Ethics for Return to Work Co-ordinators
As we begin drafting a Code of Ethics to help return to work coordinators do their job, we invite you to get involved!
The negative potential of performance bonuses
In the second part of RTW Matters' interview with Occupational Therapist Kate Roylance, she discusses the counter-productive nature of many performance rewards.
Finding the middle ground
Occupational therapist Kate Roylance was very surprised that many of you responded that "Workplaces are too generous" in the last RTW Matters poll; we interviewed her to find out why.
UK's what, who and why of vocational rehab
A look at the UK College of Occupational Therapists' new paper, "Vocational rehabilitation: what is it, who can deliver it and who pays?"
Returning to work after injury
A positive story of a long road back to a better life.

Best letter competition
Win an iPod nano for the best letter recieved before the end of February.
Habitat at Work (New Zealand)
Web based self assessment & exercise tool
Occupational health - what's age got to do with it?
For men and women entrance to mid-life will affect them - at home and at work - in different ways. Occupational medicine can help.
No need for negative nellies
Words may not break bones like sticks and stones, but they can still do a lot of damage.
Is work good for you? Professor Kim Burton explains the UK's changing answer
In this interview with UK expert we learn that modern vocational rehabilitation is not about delivering an expensive service.
Our top ten tips to improve RTW outcomes
A back to the basics look at getting it right from the beginning
Plentiful pay-offs: training RTW coordinators
Teresa Coffey is a manager with Nabenet, training in the area of RTW. She speaks from experience and has lots of good advice to offer.
How one company turned 13 workers' compensation claims into two
Seventy work-sites to manage, different styles of management, a tough work culture, misconceptions about what's involved. Annette Photios had her work cut out when she stepped into her role.
Workplace culture: what's everyone talking about?
What do we mean by "workplace culture"? How to make sure it's "good" and what does "good" culture actually mean?
Positive steps towards a culture of collaboration in the UK
Returning to work is good for your health, and in the UK there is a collective voice that agrees.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders
Of all Australian work-related injuries, a large percentage can be categorised as musculoskeletal disorders.
Psychology, person injury and rehabilitation
When a worker is physically injured, it isn't just the body that suffers.
RTW no yellow brick road
The path to return to work shouldn't have to be long and difficult
The Stress Series - Part 4
Managing a stress claim
Too much talking? No such thing!
Communication between GPs and occupational health professionals
The Stress Series Part 3 - Prevention programs in the workplace
Employers can take action to beat the problem of stress before it even arises. This article looks at the benefits of stress prevention programs.
What is vocational rehabilitation?
Let's go back a few steps now, and take a look at how we can define the concept.
Tuna farmers turning the tide in return to work management.
An investment in occupational health, safety and welfare has paid dividends for a South Australian tuna farm.
Workers rally to fight WorkCover changes.
A newly established Adelaide group offers to provide support, counselling, guidance and a united voice, as well as lobbying against recent WorkCover reforms.
The Stress Series - Part 2
Stress claims commonly build up over time, until the person reaches a point where they can't continue to ignore the issues.
Understanding successful return to work for cancer survivors
It's more important than ever to understand the factors that help and hinder cancer patients return to work.
Rehabilitating after mental illness
With dignity and respect, self-responsibility and supportive relationships, return to work after mental illness is achievable.
Gabrielle Lis
Gabrielle Lis joins RTWMatters from the beach at Wilson's Prom
The Stress Series - Part 1
Welcome to the first article in our five-part stress series. The series will look at exactly what stress is, how it affects individuals and communities, workplace prevention programs and how stress can be managed.
Returning to a different work
In an interview with Wolfgang Zimmermann, Executive Director of NIDMAR, we learn the story of his special return to work, and hear how he's made a career out of helping others to do the same.
A flag is a flag is a flag
Everyday words can take on different meanings when used by medical practitioners, but to what effect?
The writing is in the book
When a heroin and alcohol addiction lead you to the darkest places you've ever been, what can bring you back to the light?
Bridging the generation and gender gap
The most tenuous relationships between a worker and their rehabilitation consultant are often those between a young female consultant and a middle aged male worker.
Promoting active workplaces for better work health.
For employers looking to increase productivity and reduce sick days, a workplace wellness program could be the answer.
On-site injury management
A chapter summary from the book 'Moving in on occupational injury' exploring the benefits of on-site medical presence.
Motivation - Part Seven (b)
The final article in the motivation series looks at the strategies and techniques of motivational interviewing.
Burned by poor RTW management
A badly managed case of staff burnout highlights the importance of an integrated approach to return to work
Quality control in RTW: Spend less, achieve more
In the case of Mr S, a well managed return to work system saves an employer $$ and provides good outcomes for a worker with anxiety.
LaTrobe University's Greg Murphy talks to RTW Matters
Associate Professor Greg Murphy on rehab policy, RTW after spinal injury and rehab in rural communities.
A wish-list for Australia's occupational rehabilitation system
An interview with the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association's Jane Monk.
Motivation - Part Seven (a)
The penultimate article in the 'Motivation Series' looks at Motivational Interviewing and the positive effects it produces in the Return To Work process.
From the sporting arena to the workplace.
Introducing an elite sports model of injury prevention and management into the workplace is the key to reducing the frequency and severity of workplace injuries.
Award winning serious injury management.
What does it take to win an award in the challenging environment of complex injury management? One award winning provider gives us his tips and advice.
Motivation - Part Six
Are you motivated to succeed or to avoid failure?
Jos Verbeek on The Cochrane Occupational Health Field
The Cochrane Occupational Health Field gathers evidence on the effectiveness of occupational health interventions and publishes reviews. RTW Matters spoke with Coordinator Jos Verbeek.
Good RTW calls for a unified and holistic approach
Hear from two return to work and rehabilitation experts with tips to help the rehab and RTW process.
Rest and activity avoidance is often not the best medicine.
A young, fit worker develops back pain, is advised to rest and cut back activities. Three months later his back pain has not improved. Is rest really the best medicine?
Staying off work - when is it unnecessary and why does it matter?
Ensuring those who don't need to be away from work get back as soon as possible is best for all.

Compensation's negative side effects
We don't talk enough about the poor outcomes associated with workers' compensation.
Motivation - Part Five
A look at self-efficacy and how it can be maximised in patients.
Catastrophic injuries
What are 'catastrophic injuries'? Why it is important to manage them well in the workplace, and how this can be done.
Motivation - Part Four
Improving motivation is up to the employee and employer.
Returning to work after depression
October is Depressional and Anxiety Awareness month. RTW Matters speak with Clare Shann from beyondblue, the national depression initiative, about returning to work after depression.
Working with quadriplegia ONE: what motivates return to employment
What helped Mario return to work after a car accident left him with quadriplegia?
Working with quadriplegia TWO: the physical, emotional and external challenges
The different challenges Mario had to overcome to return to work after a car accident left him with quadriplegia.
Motivation: Part Three
Trying to define motivation can be tricky, but let's give it a go.
Chapter review from 'Handbook of Cancer Survivorship'
Return to work advice specifically for cancer survivors.
Deanne's story: part three
How an employer and employee can do the right thing and yet have a bad experience too
Putting vocation back in rehabilitation
Since the earliest days of rehabilitation, the focus on return to work of injured clients has gradually declined . Today, the terms rehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation are no longer synonymous. The downside of this has been lowered vocational ou
Changing health behaviours- It's all in our heads - Janette Gale
Even if they want to it doesn't mean they can, even if they can it doesn't mean they will.
Work life balance - much more than a feel good balance - Dr Lindsay McMillan
The Boston College Centre for Work and Family has revealed that 70% of managers felt that productivity had been improved in those workplaces which had a good life balance.
Motivation: Part Two
The six-part series continues. This time we look at the effect of a positive attitude towards rehab.
Dr Hari Dhir on doctor-patient communication (part 2)
The second half of Dr Dhir's doctor-patient communication insights.
Rehabilitation between the yellow flags
Prior to the onset of an injury a worker may often display a number of yellow flags, or warning signs, indicative of the injury occurring.
Building Employee Engagement and the Impact on Health: David Brown
In order to be truly engaged and contributing fully at work, there needs to be a work-life balance
Doctor-patient communication: when it's good, everyone benefits (Part 1)
The first half of RTW Matter's interview with Dr Hari Dhir.
Motivation: Part One
The first installment in a six-part series of articles on Motivation in rehabilitation.
Right to rehab: a right for all
Terminally ill patients are LIVING with their illness, and so deserve the same rehab attention as any other patient.
Deanne's story part two: the secretary forced out of work by a common health condition.
In Part Two of this series, RTW Matters interviews Deanne to discover why she feels angry and let down.
RTW Matters follows the journey of a young secretary forced out of her job by a common health condition.
In this and subsequent articles on Deanne's case, we learn about her WorkCover journey and hear why both she and her employer is so distressed by the process.
Does rehabilitation need energising?
Survival to revival - energising rehabilitation. This is the name The Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors has given it's 2008 National Conference, to be held 10 September.
An act of kindness (and a thorough understanding of comp costs) can facilitate a successful rtw process
(For surgically treated employees)
Anna Kelsey-Sugg
Poetry, soccer and split infinitives.
Joy Hewitt
RTW Matters reasearch and features writer.
Sarah Duffield
RTW Matters Senior Writer.
The importance of early return to productive and full time duties.
A worker has several months off work after experiencing acute back pain. Her eventual return to work was not successful, with frequent aggravation of symptoms resulting in inconsistent working hours and no return to her pre-injury duties after two years
Importance of preventitive stress management
Early detection and intervention are the keys when it comes to work-related stress.
The communication situation
In an interview with communication consultant Sharon McGann we learn why communication is so important and how to do it better.
The sleepy shift-worker
Talking about your sleepiness, looking out for colleagues and good sleep routines: the final installment of the three-part sleep series looks at the keys to managing sleepiness in the workplace.
Doubling up on a frozen shoulder diagnosis.
An older worker develops frozen shoulder after a fracture injury. After several months of rehabilition her condition begins to slowly improve. But before long the same problem starts to develop in her other shoulder.
Complacency in return to work programs does not produce good outcomes
An injured worker, with knee injuries and heart condition, is made redundant and has to deal with the concern that no other employer will take him on.
AMWU Return to Work project needs your help.
Resources available to workers whose 2nd language is English are limited. Here's an opportunity to assist in improving this situation.
Health and productivity program introduction , Sean Sullivan, CEO, IHPM
From the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM)
Ignoring a problem will only make it worse.
A cleaner works through increasing pain levels for more than two years before reporting her difficulties. By this time she is unable to perform her pre-injury duties and is forced into a longer term rehabilitation program.
Rehabilitation of cancer patients - addressing a lack
From the 'People At Work - Managing Complexities' conference 2008, Adelaide.
Building a corporate culture of health - Dr Catherine Hamilton
From the Institute for Health and Productivity Management.
From fighting cancer to fostering Cancer Voices
Cancer survivor John Stubbs talks about his journey back to good health and back to work, in a hugely important role.
Getting back to work: an interview with John Stubbs.
Interview with with Cancer Voices Australia executive director and cancer survivor John Stubbs.
Understanding sleepiness
Part two in the sleep series addresses some common misconceptions about sleepiness.
Cancer-related disability: getting on with life and work
Cancer patients need thorough reviews post treatment so they can return to suitable working environments.
Robert Hughes
Yes... but let's have a bit of fun while we're doing it.
A successful RTW case study under seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Mr X had been a 'journeyman' worker for many years before he developed a destructive and debilitating anxiety.
Dr Mary Wyatt
Self effacing, warm, always positive - Mary Wyatt is a consumate professional dedicated to return to work.
The carpet-layer made good
'Chris' was a carpet layer who worked in a small suburban firm.
How to help return to work after a mild traumatic brain injury
The importance of recognition and education in RTW after a mild traumatic brain injury and groups for whom the process is more difficult.
Sleepy when you shouldn't be - three takes on sleepiness in the workplace
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks as RTW Matters presents a three-part series of articles on sleepiness in the workplace. Here's part one.
Do you yawn enough to be a good RTW professional?
Researchers find that contagious yawning indicates empathy.
A member seeks advice on a problem
What do you suggest as a path forward to a positive outcome in this delicate situation?
Stop laughing - this is serious
RTW Matters' policy on humour.
When return to work works best
RTW Matters interviewed 57-year-old 'Sally', who went straight back to work after sustaining a shoulder injury. We learn what helped - and what didn't.
Before and after a brain injury
What is a brain injury and how should it be managed?
Towards a better WorkCover scheme in Victoria
WorkCover improvements would benefit patients, practitioners, employers and the community.
Throwing a fakie
A fake sickie could land you in more trouble than it's worth
Loss of motivation is common when people remain on part-time modified duties
A project manager develops an overuse injury and is still on part-time restricted duties after many months.
Proactive management is crucial in facilitating a return to work for injured workers who are anxious
A machine operator who already has minimal work restrictions experiences another injury, this time resulting in ongoing soreness, coupled with anxiety and distress. The result is an extended duration of restricted duties.
Employers can sort out liability issues simply by seeking sensible medical advice
An admin officer developed acute back pain after several weeks of 'niggling' soreness. Questioning the work relatedness of the back pain doubled the costs.
When adequate rehabilitation is not enough
A long-term stable worker sustains a significant hip injury. While he has returned to work on restricted duties, a long term view is needed.
Early, quality support for workers with significant injuries is important.
A long standing employee sustained a significant knee injury at work. Effective coordination and rehabilitation would have changed his life.
Positive (pirate) working culture
Workers' compensation and return to work plans have a longer history than you might think.
The disability support pension process: unnecessarily stressful?
Qualified assessors the key to determining disability pension eligibility.
Something to think about
The way we think and process information can lead to avoidable errors.
Shoulder and elbow pain: which treatments work?
The evidence for and against some of the most common treatments for shoulder and elbow pain.
Towards a better workplace
Opening up lines of communication is essential in the return to work process.
When compensation impedes recovery
Studies show that workers are less likely to recover from illness or injury if they enter the compensation system.
A system that works
Denmark has in place a social system that keeps unemployment low, wages high, and job prospects flexible and secure.
In body but not mind - presenteeism in the workplace
Sometimes employees need return to work assistance even while they're still physically in the workplace.
Getting happier, working better
Studies have now proven that positive psychology has a big impact. In the workplace it can keep employees happier and more motivated to return to work after an illness or injury.
Chronic pain in America
A quarter of working Americans suffer daily pain
An Interview with Paul Coburn
Paul Coburn talks about changing doctors' beliefs and practices, poor medical advice and the future of work disability managment.
Return to work trends in Comcare
An in-depth analysis of the Return To Work Monitor results for Comcare employees and employers.
   

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