This page lists all research updates available on Return to Work Matters.
Research is chosen for review based on quality of the evidence and its practical value in return to work.
Requests to undertake reviews of research on particular subjects are welcome.
Click the ‘Topics’ button below to drill down into all articles and research updates on your topic of interest.
Successful RTW isn't just about what happens back at work. It’s a complex dance that involves...
A new decision aid tool is showing promise in helping vocational rehabilitation professionals...
Interventions for mental health issues must address the individual, organisational and systemic...
Police officers are at high risk for work injuries and illnesses. How can organisations provide...
Motivational interviewing is used in case management in many Australian personal injury...
A study finds that many physios are unfamiliar with guidelines on treating low back pain and...
A study shows that cognitive-behavioural therapy-based interventions can reduce sick leave and...
Supervisors’ personal experiences of burnout, their attitudes towards mental health and the...
Occupational rehab professionals can help workers adopt preventive behaviours when returning to...
Healthcare practitioners can worsen their patients’ condition if they communicate negative...
A study highlights the importance of addressing ‘moral injury’, organisational practices and...
Healthcare professionals have more influence than they may realise on the attitudes and beliefs...
A sense of injustice is common among injured workers and can prolong their suffering. What...
A study suggests it’s time for a rethink on what causes distress in first responders and how to...
A study provides valuable insights into long-term outcomes for tailored interventions in...
A study suggests that competition overrides communication and collaboration in private physio...
What does the evidence say about using scripted messages to communicate with people?
Supervisors, senior managers and workplace culture play an important role in how well workers do...
The fears that the people around injured workers — their employers, family members and GPs —...
A study suggests that workplace mental health screening programs on their own may not be very...
Universities need to support student well-being, but this requires them to support the...
A study identifies some new psychosocial risks in hospitality jobs and proposes a way to assess...
What things make it harder or easier for physiotherapists to use a biopsychosocial approach when...
Three recent studies show how important it is for workplaces to focus on identifying and...
An app called ‘RTW after TBI’ could help people return to work and deal with the challenges they...
A study suggests that when employers and workers agree on what workplace risks are and how to...
A study of an AI drive app shows that digital psychosocial interventions can improve recovery...
A study found that visits by inspectors can improve how companies manage psychosocial risks
Evidence shows that a caring environment can have a powerful impact on workers’ mental health...
Using anonymous data in workplace risk assessments, taking the results seriously and having a...
Bullying increases the risk of workers getting sick and taking time off from work, both in the...
A recent study reveals that when it comes to workplace hazards, work, health and safety...
A recent study reveals that when it comes to workplace hazards, work, health and safety...
A study busts the myth that pain medications are necessary to ‘get on top of the pain’.
Research shows that our emotional and mental state can influence how well we heal and bounce...
A study shows how using medical narratives — or sharing stories about medical experiences — can...
A study suggests that taking a break, getting some exercise and spending time in nature — either...
A study reveals that workers of colour are less likely to return to work after illness or injury.
Swearing feels good — not just psychologically, it also helps us tolerate pain.
A study suggests that some types of reassurance by doctors might be more helpful than others...