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.

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...

Migraines and work

contributorRTWMatters team

A quick guide to understanding, accommodating and preventing migraines at work.

Accommodating long-haul Covid-19 at work

contributorRTWMatters team

Practical advice for accommodating non-infectious workers with persistent Covid symptoms during...

Need to persuade higher-ups to take action on mental health at work?

contributorRTWMatters team

Progressive think-tank The Australia Institute has released a report that quantifies the costs...

How to really reassure

contributorGabrielle Lis

Patient / treater rapport, emotional validation and education backed by experiences that...

Bad reassurance: "You’re fine! Don’t worry!"

contributorGabrielle Lis

Doctors and allied health professionals aiming to avoid over-treatment can actually make things...

Factors influencing return to work outcomes

contributorState Insurance Regulatory Authority of NSW

Determined to reverse a decline in RTW rates in NSW, SIRA (the State Insurance Regulatory...

Workers' compensation needs better healthcare - Part 2

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Positive change may be inspired by centers of excellence and everyday positivity emulated by...

Workers’ compensation needs better health care – Part I

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Wyatt explains how problems with agency, explanation deficits, delays and disputes,...

Webinar recording: The Elephant in the room - too much medicine

contributorProfessor Peter O'Sullivan

Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Professor Peter O'Sullivan from Curtin University,...

SIRA answers questions about value-based healthcare

contributorRTWMatters team

Petrina Casey of SIRA discusses the benefits and challenges of value-based healthcare (VBH) in...

How do we walk back non-evidence-based medicine?

contributorGabrielle Lis

The road to the de-adoption of low value healthcare is littered with good intentions, backseat...

Call to power

contributorGabrielle Lis

Friendly telephone contact from laypeople with no psychological training alleviates loneliness,...

Webinar recording: Good healthcare - what is it and is your worker getting it?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

In this webinar Dr Wyatt explores what constitutes good healthcare in work injury management and...

To medicalise or over-medicalise

contributorGabrielle Lis

What’s the difference, and why does it matter in workers’ compensation?

Barriers to VBH

contributorGabrielle Lis

Value-based healthcare promises to improve outcomes and reduce waste in workers’ compensation....

Making the case for VBH

contributorGabrielle Lis

Seven potential benefits of value-based healthcare (VBH) in the context of workers’...

Introducing value-based healthcare

contributorGabrielle Lis

Efficient, evidence-based and directed by what matters to patients: what’s not to like about...