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.

Jury still out on mindfulness at work

contributorKevin Jones

If you believe the hype, mindfulness can work miracles in the workplace. What do researchers...

The end of sitting

contributorGabrielle Lis

Forget whistling: can standing, walking and cycling while we work improve the health of...

Workplace MSDs: Neck, arm, hand interventions rated

contributorGabrielle Lis

Working out at work can prevent common musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, arm and hand. Find...

Can you ‘teach’ workers to be more emotionally resilient?

contributorYvonne Brunetto

You may know someone like this at work: optimistic and resilient, they appear to bounce through...

Webinar recording: Improve mental health in your workplace

contributorKevin St Mart

An introduction to the Workplace Alliance and Beyondblue's workplace mental health initiative

Speaking Up 3: Staff speaking up

contributorA. Richey

As an employee, it's often seen as easier to keep quiet, but the reality is that you need to...

Speaking Up 1: The Benefits of Open Communication

contributorA. Richey

Open communication in the workplace is sign of a positive workplace culture.

Webinar recording: Cultivating happiness at work to improve RTW

contributorAlexandra Blakemore

The Happiness at Work Program, a 30-day program devised to improve personal happiness and...

Lifestyle Factors and RTW: Fatigue

contributorA. Richey

Fatigue is often the result of a lack of sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or lengthy...

Lifestyle Factors and RTW: Fitness

contributorA. Richey

Fitness lowers the risk of injury and aids recovery, but 71% of the Australian working...

Psychological Cases: prevention is better than the cure

contributorA. Richey

The workplace is a social environment. For many, this is one of the most enjoyable aspects of...

Workplace Nonchalance: who cares?

contributorA. Richey

Nonchalant employees are not unhappy. They're not disgruntled. They’re people who show up day...

Workplace Incivility: where are your manners?

contributorA. Richey

Incivility is being rude, discourteous and showing a lack of regard for others. The behaviour...

Webinar Recording: The nuts and bolts of work oriented treatment

contributorDr Chris Stevens

Gain an understanding of the practical aspects of Work Oriented Treatment for workers...

Webinar Recording: Improving RTW Outcomes - the Strategic Impact of Work Oriented Treatment Part 1

contributorDr Chris Stevens

Gain an understanding of the strategic impact of Work Oriented Treatment for workers...

Mental Health: developing an action plan for your workplace - part 1

contributorA. Richey

An estimated one in five employees will be impacted by a mental health condition at any one time...

Case Study: I Told Them but They Didn't Listen

contributorA. Richey

Ms L is a right handed 46 year old who was employed for ten years to pack domestic cleaning...

Role Summary: Psychologist

contributorA. Richey

Psychology is the study of the mind and associated behaviours. A psychologist's focus may be on...

Webinar Recording: Employers taking the lead role

contributorKerry Foster

In this webinar Kerry Foster, Director of Active Occupational Health Services, will discuss the...

RTW and the workplace: Reciprocity rules Part 2

contributorMary Wyatt, using a Safe Work Australia report

Results from the national Return to Work Survey show the strength and consistency of workplace...

Webinar Recording: Participatory Ergonomics & Manual Handling

contributorEmma Morgan & Rachel Doody

This presentation will discuss how “Participatory Ergonomic” principles can be considered and ...

eLearning: Musculoskeletal troubles

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Understanding the difficulties everyone faces with musculoskeletal problems can help you help...

Mental health at work, Steps to get there

contributorIngrid Ozols

An interview with Ingid Ozols, director of mh@work, exploring how mental health can be improved...

Why bother with workplace wellness?

contributorGarbielle Lis and Tom Barton

1. Return on investment; 2. Health and productivity for ageing workers...

Health and wellbeing in the real world

contributorGabrielle Lis

Trouble convincing your organisation to invest in workplace health and wellbeing? Try these...

Getting RTW buy-in

contributorTom Barton

Seasoned return to work professional Joanne Taranto explains the basis of a great RTW program.

Video presentation: Participatory ergonomics

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Combining ergonomics WITH participation opens up a treasure load of possible solutions.

Workplace wellbeing - front and Centre(link)

contributorTom Barton

We speak to Jody Bell about Centrelink's award-winning health and wellbeing initiative.

Sedentary exercise

contributorGabrielle Lis

Think that 30-40 minutes of daily exercise gets an office-based workforce off the hook? Think...

Job Rotation - 3

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Implementing job rotation.

Job Rotation - 2

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Overcome the common barriers and ensure employee buy-in.

Job Rotation - 1

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Want to boost productivity, improve job satisfaction and reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal...

How do I find meaningful alternate duties?

contributorTom Barton

Here we respond to a common RTW Coordinator question.

The age of manual handling

contributorGabrielle Lis

Qantas at Brisbane Airport safely retains older manual handling workers by asking whether there...

Outside the city, outside the square

contributorAntonia George

In a close-knit rural community, one RTWC's resourceful approach transforms a movement-limiting...

New vision for old

contributorShelly Frohip

The ageing workforce may necessitate more accommodations for vision loss. What are the high and...

Designer jobs

contributorGabrielle Lis

Does job design affect health and performance in the workplace? And if so, how can jobs be...

What helps people with long-term disease remain at work?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt and Tom Barton

Making work modifications for workers with a long-term disease can help them avoid sickness...