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.

Burned by poor RTW management

contributorFrederieke Schaafsma

A badly managed case of staff burnout highlights the importance of an integrated approach to...

Motivation - Part Seven (a)

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The penultimate article in the 'Motivation Series' looks at Motivational Interviewing and the...

Jos Verbeek on The Cochrane Occupational Health Field

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The Cochrane Occupational Health Field gathers evidence on the effectiveness of occupational...

Motivation - Part Six

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Are you motivated to succeed or to avoid failure?

Good RTW calls for a unified and holistic approach

contributorSarah Duffield

Hear from two return to work and rehabilitation experts with tips to help the rehab and RTW...

Rest and activity avoidance is often not the best medicine.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A young, fit worker develops back pain, is advised to rest and cut back activities. Three months...

Motivation - Part Five

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A look at self-efficacy and how it can be maximised in patients.

Compensation's negative side effects

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

We don't talk enough about the poor outcomes associated with workers' compensation.

Staying off work - when is it unnecessary and why does it matter?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Ensuring those who don't need to be away from work get back as soon as possible is best for all.

Returning to work after depression

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

RTW Matters speak with Clare Shann from beyondblue, the national depression initiative, about...

Motivation - Part Four

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Improving motivation is up to the employee and employer.

Catastrophic injuries

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What are 'catastrophic injuries'? Why it is important to manage them well in the workplace, and...

Chapter review from 'Handbook of Cancer Survivorship'

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Return to work advice specifically for cancer survivors.

Motivation: Part Three

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Trying to define motivation can be tricky, but let's give it a go.

Working with quadriplegia TWO: physical challenges need flexible management

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Mario was set to become a surgeon before an accident left him with quadriplegia. Management...

Working with quadriplegia ONE: what motivates return to employment

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What helped Mario return to work after a car accident left him with quadriplegia?

Changing health behaviours- It's all in our heads - Janette Gale

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Even if they want to it doesn't mean they can, even if they can it doesn't mean they will.

Deanne's story part three: unintended outcome

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

How an employer and employee can do the right thing and yet have a bad experience too

Motivation: Part Two

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

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)

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The second half of Dr Dhir's doctor-patient communication insights.

Right to rehab: a right for all

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Terminally ill patients are LIVING with their illness, and so deserve the same rehab attention...

Motivation: Part one

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The first instalment in a six-part series of articles on Motivation in rehabilitation.

Doctor-patient communication: when it's good, everyone benefits (Part 1)

contributorNews Hound

The first half of RTW Matter's interview with Dr Hari Dhir.

Deanne's story part two: the secretary forced out of work by a common health condition.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In Part Two of this series, RTW Matters interviews Deanne to discover why she feels angry and...

RTW Matters follows the journey of a young secretary forced out of her job by a common health condition.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In this and subsequent articles on Deanne's case, we learn about her WorkCover journey and hear...

Anna Kelsey-Sugg

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Poetry, soccer and split infinitives.

The importance of early return to productive and full time duties

contributorSarah Duffield

A worker has several months off work after experiencing acute back pain. Her eventual return to...

The sleepy shift-worker

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The keys to managing sleepiness in the workplace.

The communication situation

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In an interview with communication consultant Sharon McGann we learn why communication is so...

Complacency in return to work programs does not produce good outcomes

contributorSarah Duffield

An injured worker, with knee injuries and heart condition, is made redundant and has to deal...

Doubling up on a frozen shoulder diagnosis.

contributorSarah Duffield

An older worker develops frozen shoulder after a fracture injury. After several months of...

Ignoring a problem will only make it worse.

contributorSarah Duffield

A cleaner works through increasing pain levels for more than two years before reporting her...

Building a corporate culture of health - Dr Catherine Hamilton

contributorAndrea Thompson

From the Institute for Health and Productivity Management.

Rehabilitation of cancer patients - addressing a lack

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Why is it then that cancer survivors have less access to help with rehabilitation post-treatment?

Robert Hughes

contributorErmine Despicio

Yes... but let's have a bit of fun while we're doing it.

Cancer-related disability: getting on with life and work

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Cancer patients need thorough reviews post treatment so they can return to suitable working...

Understanding sleepiness

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Some common misconceptions about sleepiness.

Getting back to work: an interview with John Stubbs.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Interview with Cancer Voices Australia executive director and cancer survivor John Stubbs.