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.

8 steps for tackling long-term cases - Part 1

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Picking up a long-term case for the first time can seem daunting. Here are a series of steps to...

Return to work professional: more than just a job?

contributorScott Sanderson

Overworked? Underappreciated? Remember why you do what you do.

Attitudes can be the biggest disabilities

contributorMary Harris

When it comes to returning people back to work, it's not just important to discuss the RTW...

Troubled employees

contributorMary Harris

Some Dos and Don'ts for dealing with troubled employees.

Managing up

contributorGabrielle Lis

Influencing people above you in the organisational hierarchy is good for your career and can...

Managing disaster compensation

contributorGabrielle Lis

Richard Green, injury and claims manager with the CFA after Black Saturday, knows what to expect...

Bring body, breath AND mind to work

contributorChristine Paul

Most of us do not think about consciously connecting our mind with our body, breath and soul;...

Coaching for chronic health

contributorAntonia George

When a health insurer offers support after a potentially life-threatening diagnosis, Antonia...

The RTW Coordinator from Hades!

contributorAntonia George

In this case study a process and profit focused RTW Coordinator impedes the return-to-work of an...

Nice one, Mercedes!

contributorAntonia George

Missing out on early intervention puts an end to this cleaner's night job, but doesn't stop her...

Sunny side down

contributorGabrielle Lis

Is it possible to have too much optimism? And what's the best approach to take when you're...

The heart of RTW

contributorShannon McLaughlin

In this dispatch from the desk of a RTW Coordinator, a stint as a claimant brings a whole new...

The patient's mouth

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Getting the information you need to facilitate RTW shouldn't be as painful as pulling teeth -...

Adventures in leadership

contributorGabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt

Read Mary's guide to fearless RTW Coordination leadership, then take up our Choose Your Own...

Run off your feet?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

RTW Coordinators who manage time well do better. What are the secrets to good time management?

Q&A CONFIDENTIALITY

contributorGabrielle Lis

Shh! The low-down on confidentiality, return to work and workers' comp.

Dealing with the victim mentality

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

In response to a reader's questions, our resident Occ Phys explains how to encourage a proactive...

What is process related injury?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Sometimes compensation systems, not injury, deliver the knock out blow. Don't let that happen to...

Employees not coping with pain

contributorTom Barton

Understanding how distress interferes with recovery is the key to addressing difficult RTW cases.

Common causes of workplace pain

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Understanding musculoskeletal pain will increase productivity and health.

Discrimination, harassment and RTW

contributorGabrielle Lis

How can employers avoid real (or perceived) discrimination and harassment during the RTW process?

Quick guide: Avoiding litigation

contributorGabrielle Lis

Don't send yourself--or your worker--to the dogs! Fair in-house systems can keep claims out of...

A quick guide to managing cases

contributorGabrielle Lis

The who, what, where, when of RTW case management

Resolving long-term claims

contributorGabrielle Lis

We profile a success story in identifying and dismantling non-medical barriers to RTW at Concord...

Juggling RTW and performance issues?

contributorGabrielle Lis

These practical industry insights will save you from having to grow an extra pair of arms...

"Getting back is the best"

contributorHeather Millar, SA

Aged care worker, Donna Taylor, remains positive by taking on an admin role following an injury...

Why base rehab in the workplace?

contributorGabrielle Lis

If you're having trouble convincing injured or ill workers that early return to work is the best...

To schmooze or not to schmooze?

contributorGabrielle Lis

There's no question about it, injured workers need special treatment. Employers, here are ten...

Manage people, not musculoskeletal symptoms

contributorGabrielle Lis

Ignoring the non-physical causes of musculoskeletal problems leads to very poor outcomes in this...

Let's get ethical, ethical

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A code of ethics would have helped former return to work coordinator 'Layla' to educate injured...

Top ten tips for preventing long term claims

contributorGabrielle Lis

Changes to your injury management system can help reduce claim duration.

RTW: no yellow brick road

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The path to return to work shouldn't have to be long and difficult

Tuna farmers turning the tide in return to work management.

contributorSarah Duffield

An investment in occupational health, safety and welfare has paid dividends for a South...

Bridging the generation and gender gap

contributorSarah Duffield

Young female rehabilitation consultant + middle aged male worker: the most fraught relationship...

On-site injury management

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A chapter summary from the book 'Moving in on occupational injury' exploring the benefits of...

Quality control in RTW: Spend less, achieve more

contributorFrederieke Schaafsma

In the case of Mr S, a well managed return to work system saves an employer $$ and provides good...

Burned by poor RTW management

contributorFrederieke Schaafsma

A badly managed case of staff burnout highlights the importance of an integrated approach to...

RTW Matters follows the journey of a young secretary forced out of her job by a common health condition.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In this and subsequent articles on Deanne's case, we learn about her WorkCover journey and hear...