Articles

This page lists all practical and feature articles available on RTWMatters. From top ten tips, how to guides and case studies, through to webinar recordings and video interviews with industry experts.

Click the ‘Topics’ button below to drill down into all articles and research updates on your topic of interest.

Click the ‘Quick Guides’ button for practical bit sized guides that give you a sound basic knowledge base.

How to recognise if you're "in the zone" at work

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Missing the zing in your step? Here's some help to refresh at work and steps to getting in the...

6 simple apathy busters

contributorGabrielle Lis

Supervisors apathetic about RTW? You gotta bust that apathy ASAP!

Top ten things to avoid in RTW

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg and Gabrielle Lis

Maximise the chances of great RTW outcomes by avoiding these bad boys.

Only know the bare bones about arthritis?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Flesh out your arthritis knowledge with a to-the-point briefing paper...

What do RTW Professionals need to know about CBT?

contributorGabrielle Lis

The basics of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and how it can be used to resolve difficult RTW cases.

The human face of WorkCover: from truckie to carer

contributorAnne-Marie Taplin, senior writer WorkCover SA

Senior writer with WorkCover SA shares a great case study that shows RTW is always worth the...

Who gets involved in modifying duties - and how?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Who has control over organising modified duties in your workplace - and what are the pros and...

I'm a RTW Coordinator and my work won't listen to me!

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What approaches can you take in the all-too-common situation of needing to convince others that...

What skills do I need as a RTW Coordinator?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

And how do I get those skills? Are they the same for Coordinators in companies of all sizes?

Q&A: The first five minutes

contributorGabrielle Lis

What happens in the first five minutes after injury affects health outcomes and costs. And your...

Seeking: a doctor who talks and listens

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

How to recognise doctors who are good communicators - and why it's in your interest to seek them...

Top ten reasons to have a health and wellbeing program

contributorGabrielle Lis

Need some ammunition to make the case for investment in health and wellbeing? Look no further...

Won't stand for another work risk?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Fair enough - but you might not want to take this RTW news sitting down.

Sprains and strains causing RTW pain?

contributorGabrielle Lis

How-to Guide: Using modified duties to promote durable return to work.

Asleep on the job

contributorGabrielle Lis

Missing a tram stop is the last thing fatigued workers should be worrying about. Try diabetes,...

Conflict Cookie #4: Making the most of conflict

contributorGabrielle Lis

Conflict driving you crazy? Use it to drive innovation...

What are the ingredients for success in RTW?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Getting the right mix is never easy but hearing how other people have succeeded in return to...

The proven pay-off of workplace health programs

contributorGabrielle Lis

The results of a Monash University study assessing the results of participation in the Global...

Employees tough to budge on workplace health?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Dr Steve Beller says 'Joy of living' is a much more powerful motivator than 'fear of illness and...

Dos and Don'ts for workplace health during a downturn or recession

contributorGabrielle Lis

A short guide to surviving a downturn in business for busy RTW and OHS professionals.

Six Workers' comp pearls of wisdom: a tough gig creates good advice

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Workers' comp is a tough gig - tougher still when you're looking after a company covering almost...

Manage people, not musculoskeletal symptoms

contributorGabrielle Lis

Ignoring the non-physical causes of musculoskeletal problems leads to very poor outcomes in this...

Conflict Cookie #3: Managing conflict

contributorGabrielle Lis

It's a waste to sweep cookie crumbs under the carpet, and the same goes for conflict. Don't...

Gluttons for punishment? Talking work and psychosis at Mind

contributorGabrielle Lis

Ever wondered what it might be like to work with a mental illness, let alone return to work...

Returning to work? Ten tips to help you survive the system!

contributorGabrielle Lis

Getting back to work after illness or injury can be daunting. Stick to our top ten, however, and...

Zeroing in on risky business: Hazard assessment and musculoskeletal disorders

contributorGabrielle Lis

We take a look at the non physical work factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders

CONFLICT COOKIE #2 Recognising conflict

contributorGabrielle Lis

Recognising conflict BEFORE you trip over it is essential for managing successful return to work.

Small business, big problems?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Smaller businesses don't necessarily have fewer problems with return to work - simply different...

Let's get ethical, ethical

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A code of ethics would have helped former return to work coordinator 'Layla' to educate injured...

Top ten easy steps for improving workplace culture

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Good workplace culture fosters loyal employees who want to remain at their workplace.

Good RTW ain't easy - but boy is it worth it

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Work can't stop when results improve. In this interview with an Injury Management specialist, we...

Conflict Cookie #1: What kinds of conflict happen in the workplace?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Remember how your mum taught you to turn lemons into lemonade? In this series of bite-sized...

You don't have to bend over backwards to benefit from workplace flexibility

contributorGabrielle Lis

Employers don't have to bend over backwards to reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. Just...

What's more painful than chronic pain? Chronic pain in 'The System'

contributorGabrielle Lis

Workers' comp and RTW systems can exacerbate chronic pain, but as Coralie Wales from Chronic...

KPI vs care - which is winning?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A process-driven acrimonious workers' compensation system is a dark place - let's shed some...

Top ten tips for dealing with the Doc

contributorGabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt

Is "bad medicine" delaying RTW at your organisation? This top ten will help sweeten your...

On the clock and over the hill? Ageing workers in physical industries

contributorGabrielle Lis

We can't turn back the clock, but we can offer advice on how to minimise the impact of age on...

Backing up case management with software

contributorPaul Eastman

Intuition Software's Paul Eastman gets technical, explaining the ins and outs of an underused...

Top ten tips for super smooth supervising of RTW

contributorGabrielle Lis

Supervising return to work ain't easy...unless you've read our latest top ten!