Free Knowledge Base Articles

RTWMatters is Australia’s leading independent resource for return to work professionals.

Dr Mary Wyatt and RTWMatters are committed to sharing information that can make a meaningful difference to RTW experiences and outcomes. We rely on subscriptions to continue our work, but we also understand that some people have difficulty convincing their employers to provide access. In response to this feedback, we’ve decided to make approximately 1 in 7 articles free and create a small best practice knowledge base that is available to everyone.

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Listed below are our Free Articles. Click the ‘Free Research Articles’ button to visit our Free Research Summaries and Updates.

Australian study seeks work-focused CBT practitioners and clients. Can you help?

contributorLauren Finestone

A research project is exploring the gap between guidelines and practice in work-focused CBT and...

Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s prescription for injury management success

contributorLauren Finestone

Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) has enhanced its RTW outcomes and reduced its...

The role of physiotherapy in certification of capacity for work — the Victorian experience

contributorLauren Finestone

We summarise a presentation by Paul Coburn at the Research to Real World for Compensable Injury...

Navigating whiplash online — does an e-resource help insurers and clinicians?

contributorLauren Finestone

This is a summary of a presentation by Professor Rebbeck and Dr Carvalho-e-Silva at the Research...

Speak to recover — the art of messaging in injury care (Part 2)

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Mary Wyatt explores the effects of communication on work-related injuries. In Part 2 of this...

Speak to recover — the art of messaging in injury care (Part 1)

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Mary Wyatt explores the effects of communication on work-related injuries.

It pays to share (evidence-based messages)

contributorRTWMatters team

Ten reasons to share the key messages from It Pays To Care with everyone who works with workers’...

Do you know how to develop a return to work plan?

contributorLauren Finestone

Research shows workers have poorer health outcomes if they are away from work for a long time. A...

Millions of Australians have a chronic illness. So why aren’t employers accommodating them?

contributorPeter Ghin & Susan Ainsworth

More than 20 million Australians have at least one long-term health condition, 63% of whom are...

Tools to assess psychosocial safety in your workplace

contributorLauren Finestone

Free psychosocial risk assessment tools can be a valuable starting point for organisations that...

Is your organisation ready for regulatory change? — the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of psychosocial risk assessment and control

contributorLauren Finestone

This is Part 2 of a 2-part article that summarises a presentation by Professor Angela Martin at...

EAST-ern medicine — how behavioural science can help people self-manage their health and wellbeing

contributorLauren Finestone

A guide about what drives our behaviour can help people living with long-term conditions and...

Threading the needle (Part 2) — tips for managing RTW for injured or ill workers

contributorLauren Finestone

Safework Australia has a guide helps supervisors in small and medium businesses tread the tricky...

Threading the needle (Part 1) — tips for managing RTW for injured or ill workers

contributorLauren Finestone

Safework Australia's new guide helps supervisors in small and medium businesses tread the tricky...

Managing musculoskeletal conditions at work (Part 2) — 6 steps to a job change

contributorLauren Finestone

For some people with back pain or other musculoskeletal conditions, self-management may mean...

Self-management — the muscle behind effective musculoskeletal care

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Self-management of long-term musculoskeletal conditions 101 — the basics.

Look and see - highlighting the impact of psychological hazards on police

contributorDr Nick Ford & John Schumann

‘Real stories from real cops’—how to recognise and reduce the impact of psychological hazards on...

Workplace mental health resources by jurisdiction

contributorRTWMatters team

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

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...

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...

Interview with Dr Doron Samuell, psychiatrist and behavioural scientist

contributorDr Doron Samuell

There are deep, systemic problems with the way we manage mental health claims, according to Dr...

Will workers' comp scandals overshadow pervasive human costs?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Yes, workers' compensation schemes have been poorly managed. Real change will come when there is...

Working from home while homeschooling the kids

contributorDr Anamika Devi

It's a tough gig, but expert advice suggests that it is possible to maintain the wellbeing of...

Webinar recording: Implications for the Health Benefits of Good Work in the era of COVID-19

contributorKeith Govias

Good work has health benefits even during times of crisis. Tips for supporting remote workers,...

Legal disputes, workers' compensation and COVID

contributorDanny Khoshaba, Partner, Insurance, Mills Oakley, along with his Associate Sherilyn Dunkley

A Brave New World: a workers compensation perspective on resolving legal disputes via technology...

Do you know anyone who has lost work courtesy of COVID-19?

contributorRTWMatters team

The COVID-19 Work and Health Study is tracking the impact of the pandemic on those who lose work...

Coping with quarantine (and social distancing)

contributorGabrielle Lis

Quarantine is hard on people’s mental health but we can reduce the risks for those forced into...

Working through COVID-19

contributorRTWMatters team

Practical and authoritative material to help you navigate these unprecedented times.

Three ways RTW professionals can manage emotional labour

contributorGabrielle Lis

Burnt out? Dissatisfied? Struggling to manage your emotions 9 to 5? Emotional labour expert Dr...

Webinar recording: Managing shoulder injuries and rethinking our approach

contributorDr Angus Forbes

This webinar looks at common shoulder conditions and explains why current diagnostic...

Hungry to improve RTW?

contributorRTWMatters team

The researchers at the Insurance Work and Health Group at Monash University are offering a...

Video: How to get the most out of RTWMatters

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

An introduction to the resources available with tips on how to get the most out of your subscription

Six ways to beat the back-to-work blues by building resilience

contributorHolly Blake, University of Nottingham

Chartered health psychologist and Associate Professor Holly Blake shares practical tips to ease...

Supervisor training package launch: Early bird opportunity

contributorRTWMatters team

Managing return to work and injury - A Supervisor Training Package

Psychiatric cases and secondary depression - ELEARNING

contributorDr Peter Cotton and Dr Mary Wyatt

An online training module for RTW Coordinators who need tools to help them manage cases where...

The research and analysis behind our new training package for supervisors

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Wyatt describes the six years of research, reflection and experimentation that have gone into...