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.

‘Even the lone ranger had Tonto’ — the unintended consequences of pain self-management

contributorLauren Finestone

Dr Karen Rodham, Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of Chichester, cautions...

Webinar recording: Wellbeing and Mental Health – Building inner resilience and supporting others in 2022 - Beyond Blue

contributorMel Novak

Small business owners have been doing it tough for a long time and statistics are demonstrating...

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...

Healthy Minds, Healthy Workplaces

contributorRTWMatters team

Comcare and Beyond Blue demonstrate benefits of low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy at work.

Claims Process: the stress of making a claim

contributorA. Richey

When a worker is injured, there might be fears for their job stability, financial burdens, or...

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...

Banishing Burnout: Strategies for a Constructive Engagement with Work

contributorA. Richey

Dr Michael Leiter, a professor at the Centre for Organisational Research and Development at...

Mental Health: developing an action plan for your workplace - part 2

contributorA. Richey

Once your action plan has been developed, what are the next steps for implementation?

Mental Stress in Australia: Compensation Statistics part 1

contributorA. Richey

Work-related mental stress places a burden on the health and welfare of employees, as well as...

Role Summary: Psychologist

contributorA. Richey

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

A new approach to workplace bullying

contributorStefanie Garber

We speak to Dr Doron Samuell, an expert on workplace bullying, about office disputes, gender and...

Bullied by bullying claims

contributorStefanie Garber

A rise in frivolous or even malicious bullying claims may undermine the plight of true victims.

Who gets bullied by whom - and where?

contributorStefanie Garber

An insight into common personality traits shared by victims of bullying, as well as...

Follow the leader

contributorStefanie Garber

Regulatory bodies set the standard for other organisations in their industry. In relation to...

6 steps to a bully-free workplace

contributorStefanie Garber

Workplace bullying can seem difficult to tackle. A sensitive approach is needed, combined with...

Gender wars

contributorStefanie Garber

Women are more likely to be bullied in the workplace than men. Yet most female bullies target...

Laying down the law

contributorStefanie Garber

Several legal options exist for victims of bullying, each with different outcomes. How effective...

Everyone plays a role in workplace bullying

contributorStefanie Garber

Bullying is more than individual conflict. Factors like policies, leadership and workplace...

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...

The broad reach of suicide

contributorTom Barton

The burden of suicide in Australia is comparable with other major, better understood chronic...

Workplace stress: we can work it out

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Causes of stress, and why it will never disappear if we don't encourage the right behaviours.

Other people's stress

contributorSuperDoc

Are stress management programs for managers the key to reducing stress claim costs?

Bullying and harassment

contributorGreg Barton, Director, Insight Services Group

Workplace bullies are often workplace big fish. Combating the problem requires a top down approach.

Stress: the new RSI

contributorSuperDoc

SuperDoc applies lessons learnt about RSI in the 80s to the current "epidemic" of stress - and...

Use the Force to manage stress

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Tips from the Safety Strategy Manager of Victoria Police for managing stress in a challenging...

All bad news or incentive to improve?

contributorGabrielle Lis

The financial crisis provides employers opportunity to support employees to better health - but...

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;...

Mind power

contributorGabrielle Lis

Psychologist Colin Thompson introduces us to Mindfulness Therapy, which has been shown to assist...

Separating stress and chronic pain

contributorTom Barton

Stress makes chronic pain worse, and worsens RTW outcomes. Here are 10 ideas to help alleviate...

Signs of suicide

contributorTom Barton

How to look out for and deal with signs of suicide in your workplace.

Anxiety Q&A 3: Working with anxiety

contributorGabrielle Lis

This final instalment provides tips for helping anxious employees maintain their cool and remain...

Anxiety Q&A Part 1: The basics

contributorGabrielle Lis

Understanding anxious employees is the first step in helping them maintain their cool and remain...

Bullying in Australian workplaces: Q&A

contributorGabrielle Lis

Bullying is bad for workplace health and bad for RTW. How widespread is it, and how does it...

Dos and Don'ts for workplace health during a downturn or recession

contributorGabrielle Lis

A short guide to surviving a downturn in business for busy RTW and OHS professionals.

Gluttons for punishment? Talking work and psychosis at Mind

contributorGabrielle Lis

Ever wondered what it might be like to work with a mental illness, let alone return to work...

Top ten tips to keep you on track when managing a stress claim.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

To help an employee return to work after a stress claim, our ten tips start with proactivity and...

Top ten tips for preventing stress in your workplace

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace? Prevent it from ever occurring! Our...

The Stress Series Part 3 - Prevention programs in the workplace

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Employers can take action to beat the problem of stress before it even arises. This article...