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.

'I want to do that' — the importance of autonomy, competence and relatedness

contributorLauren Finestone

We all have 3 basic psychological needs that must be fulfilled if we are to do well and feel...

‘I can do that’ — how building self-efficacy can support workers return to work

contributorLauren Finestone

How to help build self-efficacy — tips for supporting a worker who may have lost confidence...

Q&A with mental health workplace consultant

contributorRTWMatters team

"Since the pandemic started, there is a general desire by workplaces to do more about workplace...

Webinar recording: Rebuilding one shattered brick at a time - understanding workplace bullying

contributorMichael Plowright

Michael Plowright, Director of Working Well Together shares from over two decades of leadership...

Thrive at work - Resources and guides

contributorProfessor Karina Jorritsma

We speak with Professor of Practice Karina Jorritsma, one of the lead researchers at Thrive at...

Small acts of sexual harassment hurt, poor organisational response hurts more

contributorAlice Sutton

In this case study, a fundraising professional shares how her confidence and mental health were...

A call to pillows!

contributorRTWMatters team

Organisations have a lot to gain from battling insomnia, with benefits ranging from increased...

Small business guide: Looking after yourself and your people

contributorNational Mental Health Commission

A guide to managing mental health in small businesses, during Covid-19 and beyond.

Big ideas for mental health in small businesses

contributorTim Hoopmann

In this Q&A with Tim Hoopmann, small business owner and Beyond Blue speaker, we learn how to...

Guidelines for diagnosing, managing and trouble-shooting mental health claims

contributorRTWMatters team

GP guidelines on the assessment and management of work-related mental health conditions aim to...

Workplace mental health resources by jurisdiction

contributorRTWMatters team

Not knowing where to begin is a barrier that prevents some organisations from taking action on...

Healthy Minds, Healthy Workplaces

contributorRTWMatters team

Comcare and Beyond Blue demonstrate benefits of low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy at work.

Mates in Construction builds better mental health

contributorNational Workplace Initiative

“We called 52 industry leaders together at a national level in Sydney and essentially asked, are...

How workers feel about getting hurt impacts how and when they get better

contributorRTWMatters team

Psychological responses to work injury impact recovery. Australian researchers have interviewed...

Unreliable, dangerous, incompetent?

contributorRTWMatters team

Awareness of workplace injury stigma is low amongst Australian employers but the costs may be...

Getting the workplace onside

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A guide to help insurance case managers, RTW Coordinators and rehabilitation providers motivate...

Case management opportunity alert

contributorGabrielle Lis

Get to know an untapped resource: Australia’s committed, highly experienced cohort of RTW case...

What do case managers value about their work?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Forty-six Australian case managers tell Return to Work Matters about the most rewarding aspect...

Motivate workers by meeting their needs

contributorDanielle Mik

Injured workers will continue to struggle with motivation unless the system takes charge of...

Case study: Regulator-led case management success

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Evidence from a US jurisdiction shows that top-down reforms can improve RTW outcomes, improving...

Case manager whistle blower says workers deserve better  

contributorAnonymous Claims Adviser

“I would hate for an injured worker to hear how they’re spoken about in the office,” a NSW...

Help drive better health for truckies

contributorDriving Health Team, Monash University

Help us improve the health & wellbeing of truck drivers with a new program from the Driving...

An evidence-informed approach to motivating change

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Motivating injured workers to make positive change may become easier if you match your approach...

Webinar recording: The elephant in the room - a rehabbers journey to the other side

contributorRhea Mercado

Dr Mary Wyatt interviews Rhea Mercado, author and rehabilitation professional, about the...

Webinar recording: My top strategies for rehabilitation case management

contributorTatjana Jokic

In this webinar psychologist, Tatjana Jokic shares top strategies for effective case management.

Worksafe’s hotel quarantine breach penalties are a warning for other employers to keep workers safe from COVID

contributorProfessor Alex Collie

Professor Alex Collie of Monash University says the case highlights that all employers have...

Ten things injury insurers do that plaintiff lawyers love

contributorWill Barsby, General Manager CTP, Life and A&H at EML

An ex-compensation lawyer spills the dirt on how injury insurers can be their own worst enemies,...

A new focus on case management

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Wyatt describes the current state of case management in Australia, and asks for your help in...

Webinar recording: Case management - The good, the bad and the ugly

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

In this webinar, the first in a series of webinars on case management, Dr Mary Wyatt outlines...

Small business: big challenge for case management

contributorSharon Stratford

Of all business sizes, small businesses have the worst RTW outcomes. How can case managers help...

Why some injured workers struggle and how to help

contributorDr Boris Fedoric

Rehabilitation counselling guru Dr Boris Fedoric explains why some workers struggle to get back...

Rehabilitation Counsellor: Role Profile

contributorDr Boris Fedoric

In this Q&A with Dr Boris Fedoric, we learn that rehabilitation counsellors put injured workers...

Top ten tips for better living with less pain

contributorRTWMatters team

Practical advice for people who experience persistent pain, based on the work of musculoskeletal...

Webinar recording: Prevalence and patterns of health service use in compensated Australian workers with low back pain

contributorMichael Di Donato

In this webinar, Michael Di Donato reports on his recent research into imaging and opioid use in...

A scheme leaders’ approach to turning around RTW

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A conversation with the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).

Webinar recording: Best practice physiotherapy consultations, a focus on function and return to work

contributorDavid Elvish

For patients with high distress or low self efficacy, health care can inadvertently do harm. How...