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.

Ten challenges of working and recovering at home

contributorGabrielle Lis

Whether it's because of a work injury or a pandemic, many of us have periods of working from...

What matters about RTWMatters?

contributorRTWMatters team

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

And now what?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

For ten years, national RTW rates have remained stagnant. Why? And what hope does Dr Wyatt see...

Don't let a bully jeopardise your return to work

contributorJenny Holt

Information for workers who face bullying when they return to work after injury or illness.

Good news: RTWMatters is free for RTW Coordinators in South Australia

contributorRTWMatters team

RTW Coordinators, are you missing out on help from a RTW ally? Or keeping a good thing to...

WorkSafe Victoria failing the most vulnerable: insurers profiting

contributorGabrielle Lis

We summarise the Victorian Ombudsman's investigation into WorkSafe's handling of complex claims,...

Better than ever: Enjoy the revamped RTWMatters website

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Our best content is now easier to navigate. Keep an eye out for new research and resources that...

Mental Health and Cancer

contributorA. Richey

The diagnosis of any serious disease can have an impact on mental health; for the person...

Historical Workplace Diseases: we've come a long way

contributorA. Richey

The history of work disease is as old as the concept of work itself. This article takes a look...

Chronic Pain in the Workplace: a psychological approach

contributorA. Richey

Dr Matt Graham, a registered psychologist and team psychologist at OrionHealth, explores the...

Critical Ideas for the Psychologically Healthy Workplace

contributorA. Richey

In this webinar on Conflict, Emotion, Incidents, & Behaviour, Pierre Nadeau, Respectful...

Injury Management: how to create your policy

contributorA. Richey

An injury management policy provides broad guidelines on the company’s approach to injury...

RTW Systems - How does your workplace stack-up?

contributorA. Richey

Developing effective workplace systems can be challenging. It can also be difficult to know if...

Role Summary: Supervisors

contributorA. Richey

While the employee has the greatest influence over return to work outcomes, supervisor input is...

Role Summary: Co-workers

contributorA. Richey

An injured individual who feels supported and confident with work colleagues has a better return...

Can we change workplace culture by the way we talk?

contributorRobert Aurbach

What if we change the language in the workplace?

What is the difference between cancer and whiplash?

contributorDavid Butler

“When a lot of remedies are suggested for a disease, that means it can’t be cured” -...

Examining supervisor competencies and return to work

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Competencies supervisors need to affect positive RTW outcomes for workers suffering...

Most Victorian GPs not recommending RTW: study

contributorRTWMatters team

A study shows that Victorian GPs are unlikely to recommend alternate duties for injured workers.

Broken people from broken systems

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

For many injured workers, the greatest challenge is not the extent of their injuries but the...

The case of the "lying" handyman

contributorStefanie Garber

How can Return to Work professionals prevent suspicion and mistrust from derailing a claim?

Guidelines on shoulder rotator cuff problems

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Flow charts detailing shoulder pain treatment

The jewels of case management

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Trust, efficiency, senior management involvement and the all-important connection between the...

Why we are pro best practice case management

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Wyatt reflects on research she conducted, highlighting that the worker-centred approach...

Applying Risk Theory to Occupational Health

contributorMark Cassidy

A simple adaptation of risk theory to occupational health can deliver significant improvements...

Reader Feedback: Tips on getting the most out of Return to Work Matters

contributorCheryl Griffiths

Our recent survey responses highlighted the number of ways that RTW Matters content is being...

For Doctors - Back and neck pain: does age (and work) make a difference?

contributorCharlotte Leboeuf-Yde

Professor Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde outlines key findings based on the study of 40,000 Danes.

Give a little bit of 'tough' and you'll probably get some back

contributorSuperDoc

We all know what happens to that which goes around (it comes around), so why do we sometimes...

The Value of Questions and Early Answers

contributorSuperDoc

Gather round, I've got a story to tell - and it starts with a question...

The power of learned optimism

contributorScott Sanderson

How 'learned optimism' can improve return to work outcomes: Breaking down Theo Feldbrugge's...

Decisions about surgery: The rock and the hard place

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Successful surgery starts with the best decision about whether surgery should be performed.

Leading the pack or dragging it down?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

When one part of the system underperforms, the others follow suit.

Mental health buy-in

contributorTom Barton

Financial commitment is just the beginning

Developing a successful rehabilitation program: case study

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Interview with Garry Pearce, Director of Rehabilitation for the Tasmanian Department of Health.

Garnering consensus on the importance of work to health

contributorGabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt

Occupational Physicians have brought together a broad group to join forces on changing beliefs...

Australian Consensus Statement on the Health Benefits of Work

contributorAustralasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Occupational Physicians garner stakeholder support to influence policy initiatives and...

Decision-making justice Part 1.

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A good decision making process is worth its weight in platinum, making this a key read for...

Why train supervisors and line managers in return to work?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A Powerpoint presentation on the whys and wherefores of supervisor training in RTW management.

Returning to hard work

contributorMary Harris

Genius, they say, is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration. This case study looks at how four...

Emotional resilience: 1

contributorTom Barton

This first of a two-part series investigates the negative health and work effects of pessimism,...