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.

‘We started with bananas’ — self-managing the culture of a small business

contributorLauren Finestone

One of the rewarding things about having a self-managed company can be empowering workers to...

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

contributorLauren Finestone

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

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...

From dictator to facilitator — reframing the role of therapists in patient care

contributorLauren Finestone

We’ve been discussing the role of physiotherapy in self-management for decades – how much...

Words, language and collaboration matter in returning to ‘good work’

contributorLauren Finestone

Four experts discuss the idea of ‘good work’ and how collaboration can achieve better outcomes...

‘Be more human, think like a customer’ — the importance of empathy and connection in case management

contributorLauren Finestone

When injured workers reflect on their workers' comp claims experience, it's how their claims...

Webinar recording — Thrive at Work: Prevent harm through SMART work design

contributorSajani Fernando

Evidence-based strategies for organisations to support employees across the full spectrum of...

Motivate workers by meeting their needs

contributorDanielle Mik

Injured workers will continue to struggle with motivation unless the system takes charge of...

Webinar recording: A work-design focused Return to Work process

contributorMeredith Carr

Meredith Carr discusses how to effectively implement a work-design focused RTW process and the...

Working on addiction

contributorCassidy Webb

How to recognise and support those who suffer from addiction at work.

(Home) working it!

contributorGabrielle Lis

Accentuate the positives and eliminate the negatives of remote work, with this strategic guide...

Ten benefits of working from home

contributorGabrielle Lis

Whether you're a full time remote worker, recovering from injury or illness, or practising...

Supercharging motivation for the chronically ill

contributorRTWMatters team

Motivating messages for RTW coordinators, supervisors and HR, based on research that describes...

What injured workers want

contributorGabrielle Lis

The bad news: according to workers, positive interactions with insurers are few and far between....

Webinar recording: What works - Lessons from overseas

contributorRobert Aurbach

The most successful workers' compensation system in the world is one you haven't heard of.

When you suspect an employee

contributorA. Richey

Joe Unreliable and Jane Dodge have lodged claims for workers' compensation. How should you...

Webinar recording: Telephonic support to facilitate return to work: what works, how, and when?

contributorNick Kendall

A research review of telephone use for case management was released in the UK this year. Learn...

Case study: Flexible approaches can kickstart cases

contributorStefanie Garber

Despite the best efforts of the return to work manager, some cases seem to make little progress....

Recorded Webinar: Improving RTW Culture in the Workplace

contributorLori Boys

This webinar will explore the initiatives that ISS Facility Services' National Injury Assist...

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...

SuperDoc: Serve up a good attitude

contributorSuperDoc

Want positive results from your clients? Check your 'tude.

Who's the boss?

contributorGabrielle Lis

The health and wellbeing of people with chronic illness improves when they become...

Learning from the Vet

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Getting in touch with connectedness

The broad reach of suicide

contributorTom Barton

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

Better off without comp?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

It's time to question whether some workers should be spared the compensation process.

The ABC of CBT: Part Three

contributorGabrielle Lis

In which we ask: Who would benefit from CBT? How can you broach the subject of therapy in the...

The ABC of CBT: Part Two

contributorGabrielle Lis

In which we - and injured worker Ms W - learn that when you change your behaviour, you also...

The ABC of CBT: Part One

contributorGabrielle Lis

In which we - and injured worker Ms W - learn that 'C' is for 'Cognitive,' and that thoughts...

New Zealand's Bronnie Thompson looks at the next steps back to work - looking broadly at the path forward.

contributorBronnie Thompson

Two cases demonstrate the importance of thinking about the big picture in return to work

RTW success sounds like this

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Have a look at this letter from an employee of one workplace doing fantastic things for injured...

SuperDoc (5) - On partnerships with doctors

contributorSuperDoc

Partnerships between doctors and the workplace are worth working on.

Employee engagement

contributorRTWMatters team

This month we focus on employee/ claimant engagement.

You say it best when you say nothing at all: Effective listening

contributorScott Sanderson

Have you ever been told you are a poor listener? Maybe you have, but you weren't paying...

Partner support

contributorElizabeth Quinn

This case study looks at how involving and supporting the partner of an injured worker assists...

Worksite wonders

contributorGabrielle Lis

Visiting injured workers at home and at work is an integral part of the Scenic Rim Regional...

Telecommuting and return to work

contributorTom Barton

The pros and cons of working from home when returning to work.

Vintage empathy

contributorAntonia George

Paul Amos uses his personal experience of injury to great effect when dealing with injured...

Want a RTW rate of 92%?

contributorAntonia George

How honesty, realism, a community-ethic and targeted splurging set one health and rehab...