Maximising the effectiveness of RTW coordinators
RTW coordinators are the lynchpin of return to work but Australian research shows they often feel out of their depth. From recruitment to training needs to on-the-job-tips, the resources on this page provide a roadmap to success for RTW coordinators.
Opening up lines of communication is essential in the return to work process.
An admin officer developed acute back pain after several weeks of 'niggling' soreness....
Hear from two return to work and rehabilitation experts with tips to help the rehab and RTW...
In the case of Mr S, a well managed return to work system saves an employer $$ and provides good...
A chapter summary from the book 'Moving in on occupational injury' exploring the benefits of...
Employers can take action to beat the problem of stress before it even arises. This article...
Seventy work-sites to manage, different styles of management, a tough work culture,...
A back to the basics look at getting it right from the beginning
What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace? Prevent it from ever occurring! Our...
Productive employment probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of...
After return to work coordinators expressed to us a lack of formal guidance in their role as...
A new UK report finds that RTW depression is widespread, even when physical illness is the...
To help an employee return to work after a stress claim, our ten tips start with proactivity and...
Intuition Software's Paul Eastman gets technical, explaining the ins and outs of an underused...
Work can't stop when results improve. In this interview with an Injury Management specialist, we...
A code of ethics would have helped former return to work coordinator 'Layla' to educate injured...
Getting back to work after illness or injury can be daunting. Stick to our top ten, however, and...
It's a waste to sweep cookie crumbs under the carpet, and the same goes for conflict. Don't...
Need some ammunition to make the case for investment in health and wellbeing? Look no further...
How to recognise doctors who are good communicators - and why it's in your interest to seek them...
And how do I get those skills? Are they the same for Coordinators in companies of all sizes?
What approaches can you take in the all-too-common situation of needing to convince others that...
Practical tips for reducing musculoskeletal claims
Who has control over organising modified duties in your workplace - and what are the pros and...
The basics of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and how it can be used to resolve difficult RTW cases.
There's no question about it, injured workers need special treatment. Employers, here are ten...
This simple checklist will help you pinpoint the problem and jump start the process.
RTW motivation can be hard to muster...Unless you've had your dose of the RTWMatters...
How do employers know who is the right staff member to delegate the role of RTW coordinator?
Everything you need to know about back pain and RTW in one hit!
Jack of all trades? Conjurer of motivation and modified duties? Piggy in the middle? We lay it...
This comprehensive guide to helping workers with back pain will have you donning lycra in no time...
This final instalment provides tips for helping anxious employees maintain their cool and remain...
Advice on how to bite the signs of disengagement - before they bite you
We profile a success story in identifying and dismantling non-medical barriers to RTW at Concord...
A fact sheet about shoulder pain, including workplace contributions and solutions
You don't have to hang anybody out to dry to get your systems pegged. Instead, make plans and...
Not yet a RTW pro? A tip: avoid these three attitudes when dealing with an injured worker.
A change is as good as a holiday, right? Time to implement change where it's needed.
Want something done at work? It helps to know what and who you're working with. Start by asking...
Figuring out whether you're a team player or a solo flier, a nurturer or a strategist can make...
Don't send yourself--or your worker--to the dogs! Fair in-house systems can keep claims out of...
Some people have a harder time managing their injury and returning to work than others. Are...
We consider why doctors fail to communicate well about return to work, and offer strategies for...
Understanding musculoskeletal pain will increase productivity and health.
How to take the long view and get where you want to go, faster.
Simple, straightforward guidelines for ensuring injured employees have access to all their legal...
If patients who see an occupational doctor get better results, why isn't it common practice?
Understanding how distress interferes with recovery is the key to addressing difficult RTW cases.
When it comes to "invisible injury", what you CAN'T see CAN hurt you--and your RTW prospects....
Despite growing perceptions that workplace activities cause and complicate injuries, the...
Dispatch from the desk of a RTW Coordinator, tackling re-injury and a nasty case of badweekitis.
Small Business series Part 2: The nuts and bolts.
Shh! The low-down on confidentiality, return to work and workers' comp.
This Q&A for employers covers the Who, What, When and How of Rehabilitation Providers
RTW Coordinators who manage time well do better. What are the secrets to good time management?
We chat to Michael Simpson from OccCorp about how you can reduce your premium AND meet your...
Gabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt
Read Mary's guide to fearless RTW Coordination leadership, then take up our Choose Your Own...
Stress makes chronic pain worse, and worsens RTW outcomes. Here are 10 ideas to help alleviate...
Getting the information you need to facilitate RTW shouldn't be as painful as pulling teeth -...
In this dispatch from the desk of a RTW Coordinator, a stint as a claimant brings a whole new...
Cancer is the most widespread chronic disease in Australia. We look at 10 tips for supporting...
Finding it hard to move your company on workplace wellbeing? Run these case studies by them and...
You know organisational trust has tangible benefits. Now for the hard yards: how can you foster...
Hang on! Isn't RTW supposed to be all about the love? We count down ten ways to improve tetchy...
Passive. Aggressive. Assertive. How does your professional communication style affect your...
Know what you want from people at work, but not how to get it? Learn how to talk the talk, and...
Q-Comp was so impressed by the collective wisdom of QLD RRTWCs, they compiled a list of tips to...
Gabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt
People who believe they've been treated unfairly have lower functional ability than those who...
Visiting injured workers at home and at work is an integral part of the Scenic Rim Regional...
Qantas at Brisbane Airport safely retains older manual handling workers by asking whether there...
Keep your workers happy, healthy and productive! Find out why ergonomics is important and then...
We respond to a common RTW Coordinator question.
Are you a RTW professional daunted by the prospect of working with a predominantly blue collar...
Want to boost productivity, improve job satisfaction and reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal...
Making the business case for best practice injury management? There are simple methods to assist...
How do managers and supervisors impact the mental and emotional wellbeing of their team? Is it...
Scott Sanderson and Gabrielle Lis
Don't just hear the words, listen to them. These five steps to becoming an active listener will...
Overworked? Underappreciated? Remember why you do what you do.
Make a big difference by assisting employees who've decided on surgery
Help workers understand the options and outcomes
We look at how organisational policies and practices can have a big impact on RTW outcomes.
Seasoned return to work professional Joanne Taranto explains the basis of a great RTW program.
Joanne Taranto explains how a RTW toolkit will expand your resources and get better results.
This article outlines how to set up a program to deal with workplace disability, and the...
How do you deal with musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace?
Picking up a long-term case for the first time can seem daunting. Here are a series of steps to...
Picking up a long-term case for the first time can seem daunting. Here are a series of steps to...
Improvements to injury reporting systems are one of the most cost effective ways to improve...
Goal setting is a vital tool in the return to work process, but using it effectively can pose a...
Changes to your injury management system can help reduce claim duration.
Have a look at this letter from an employee of one workplace doing fantastic things for injured...
Six reasons why getting return to work right is worth YOUR time and effort.
What AM I worth? And how does this compare to what prospective employers THINK I'm worth?
Ever get looked at like YOU'RE a nut when you try and explain what you do? Here's a...
The SPICE treatment method is simple and proven since WWI.
Ever wondered what RTW and sabre-toothed tigers have in common? Or why some people bounce back...
We speak to rehab provider Donna Valiant about managing everybody's needs, expectations and...
Dr Peter Cotton explains how understanding workplace morale and quality of management allows...
Successful surgery starts with the best decision about whether surgery should be performed.
Psychological or mental health claims are a fast growing liability for most compensation...
This webinar explores how doctors determine a person's work capacity.
This webinar explores how RTW Coordinators and Claims Managers can communicate effectively with...
Dr Mary Wyatt and Stefanie Garber
People respond to positive acts with positive deeds of their own. Increased positive experiences...
The 'bridge' between a proactive Health and Safety focus and Workers Compensation claims is...
If an organisation has a workers' compensation function that needs to be managed in-house, how...
If an organisation has a workers' compensation function that needs to be managed in-house, how...
Information on knee cartilage disorders, their treatments and a case study.
What is workplace bullying? How common is bullying? What forms does bullying take? How does...
Taking a long-term preventative approach to bullying is cheaper and more effective than reacting...
Flow charts detailing shoulder pain treatment
Offering injured workers an apology is likely to decrease long-term claims and improve outcomes...
Each client comes with their own unique history, personality and circumstances.
Understanding the difficulties everyone faces with musculoskeletal problems can help you help...
In response to a reader's questions, our resident Occ Phys explains how to encourage a proactive...
An interview with Ingid Ozols, director of mh@work, exploring how mental health can be improved...
Occupational physiotherapy expert Paul Coburn explains the principles of good physiotherapy and...
This webinar looks at ways that everyone can make a positive contribution towards improving the...
Building immediate rapport in return to work can turn adversary into ally.
How an innovative phone medical service helped Jetstar to support their employees with early...
In this webinar Kerry Foster, Director of Active Occupational Health Services, will discuss the...
IME stands for Independent Medical Examination. They are used for a variety of reasons,...
Effective RTW coordinators play a vital role in injury management and prevention. It's neither a...
Dr James Crompton discusses the challenges and rewards of working as a company doctor.
Michael was a 48-year-old machine operator. He had been at the workplace for nine months. During...
Developing effective workplace systems can be challenging. It can also be difficult to know if...
An injury management policy provides broad guidelines on the company’s approach to injury...
Are injury management policies a mystery to you? This template should help.
This article takes you through some effective ways of making sure that your workplace systems...
An estimated one in five employees will be impacted by a mental health condition at any one time...
Dr Wyatt discusses the lessons for employers from Return to Work Survey findings
3 key principles of communication you can start using immediately to speed up your RTW outcomes
Want to secure a mentally healthy workplace but not exactly sure what one looks like? Mental...
Fifteen things that the best performing organisations do to promote good mental health at work
This webinar discusses the values and outcomes of 24/7 injury reporting lines
Maximising their benefit in your workplace
What is a PEMA? What can - and can't - be achieved with this earliest of early interventions?
Pre-employment medical assessments bring risks for employers as well as benefits. Potential...
RTW Coordinators and health care providers: Longitudinal studies into their impact on RTW
Dr James Crompton discusses the role of the company doctor, including employer expectations,...
This webinar explores evidence on how supervisors and coworkers can influence RTW, and how to...
We take a look at the non physical work factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders
The value of effective injury reporting systems
Meeting your duties under the work health and safety laws.
Six apathy-busting tips for when supervisors just don't seem to care about managing RTW.
Employers and supervisors are key components of the return to work process. Without their...
Dr Peter Cotton and Dr Mary Wyatt
An online training module for RTW Coordinators who need tools to help them manage cases where...
Combining ergonomics WITH participation opens up a treasure load of possible solutions.
Shoulder problems are the second most common work-related musculoskeletal problem. Here's an...
Workers with injuries sustained away from work may be tempted to protect their financial...
Understanding anxious employees is the first step in helping them maintain their cool and remain...
Lara felt bullied by her case manager and colleagues when she returned to work - even when they...
Keep workers and reduce sick leave with a dose of sick leave sugar (and a dash of lemon!)
Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Gabrielle Lis
Maximise the chances of great RTW outcomes by avoiding these bad boys.
Good workplace culture fosters loyal employees who want to remain at their workplace.
Have you ever been told you are a poor listener? Maybe you have, but you weren't paying...
Whether you're a full time remote worker, recovering from injury or illness, or practising...
Accentuate the positives and eliminate the negatives of remote work, with this strategic guide...
Whether it's because of a work injury or a pandemic, many of us have periods of working from...
Unresolved workplace conflict can prevent RTW, so RTW professionals need to know how to...
A machine operator who already has minimal work restrictions experiences another injury, this...
New research shows Australian employers delay and even avoid contact with workers who make...
Mary Wyatt, using a Safe Work Australia report
Results from the national Return to Work Survey show the strength and consistency of workplace...
Mary Wyatt, using a Safe Work Australia report
Results from the national Return to Work Survey show the strength and consistency of workplace...
This introduction to ergonomics introduces the basic principles of ergonomics and why you'd want...
Our recent survey responses highlighted the number of ways that RTW Matters content is being...
To be heard is a powerful experience, and for your claimant it will make them feel safer, more...
An academic from the University of NSW shares insights from research that explores the best ways...
Gabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt
Is "bad medicine" delaying RTW at your organisation? This top ten will help sweeten your...
Bullying is more than individual conflict. Factors like policies, leadership and workplace...
A RTW coordinator's busy role can often put them at risk of stalling. We look at how to shift...
There are three golden rules for small business owners who doubt the work-relatedness of an...
Tips for supervisors who have their doubts about a worker's injury or compensation claim.
What do workers who lodge a claim for psychological injury worry about? And how can the...
Dr Robyn Horsley gives us ten tips for great communication with the treating doctor.
From managing interactions with doctors, to writing useful and appropriate file notes, new RTWCs...
Despite the best efforts of the return to work manager, some cases seem to make little progress....
Influencing people above you in the organisational hierarchy is good for your career and can...
Ever looked at someone else’s injury management results and thought: I want what they’ve got?...
Delaying contact with workers who’ve claimed for psychological injury can delay return to work....
A Powerpoint presentation on the whys and wherefores of supervisor training in RTW management.
A quick guide to the advantages and basic techniques of active listening.
There is a correlation between compensation and poorer surgical outcomes. What can be done?
We respond to a Return to Work Coordinator's query about resolving problems between employers...
Competencies supervisors need to affect positive RTW outcomes for workers suffering...
In Australia, only one third of psychological claimants feel supported by their employer: those...
What happens in the first five minutes after injury affects health outcomes and costs. And your...
Identify "dirty" laundry and take it to the cleaners
Knowing when injury reports should be made and how they should be dealt with can reduce the pain...
Musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of compensated injury, but what exactly are they?
Identify high risk cases BEFORE they bite.
A cost analysis of workplace culture and its impact on return to work
An introduction to knee injuries, covering the most common types of work-related knee problems,...
An introduction to the physiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The most common barriers to RTW are "psychosocial". Getting to know them makes it possible to...