Blog

At Phoenix Occupational Medicine we are working hard to provide you with information that will be of value to your workplace and the people in it.

If you would like us to focus on a topic that is important to you drop us a line at connect@phoenixoccmed.com.au.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
March 1, 2024
Heard about our combined service with Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation?

Learn more about our the unique service, delivering support to general practitioners and early best practise rehabilitation for employees with workplace injuries and illness.

Anna Linning
February 2, 2024
Trips, falls and getting older. How can employers manage this risk?

It happens so quickly. Just a simple stumble and the next minute you’re on your hands and knees.

Anna Linning
February 2, 2024
Why would I need a hand therapist?

From 'Aren't all broken wrists the same?' to 'Choosing to get a finger amputation to be better at your job(!)' - Accreditated Hand Therapist, Christina Harwood has seen it all.

January 22, 2024
Pain. What if you intervene early?

An employee sustains an injury. The injury is repairing. But the pain seems to hanging around. What's happening and what can you do to assist?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
January 12, 2024
Early intervention done right: Stopping the errors of the past - our first annual symposium

We're excited to present our first annual early intervention symposium - held jointly with Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation in Brisbane, Thursday 21 March.

December 22, 2023
Festive season hours

We'll have a small team working in between the public holidays. We will be available by phone or email but the clinic will not be physically open for appointments or deliveries.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
September 6, 2023
What does Occupational Telemedicine have to do with WorkCover Queensland Premiums?

WorkCover Queensland policy renewal time is nearly here.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
May 30, 2023
How an Occupational Physician can make a GP’s life easier.

GPs are the first line of healthcare in Australia and they form an essential part of the team looking after an ill or injured worker.

Anna Linning
May 30, 2023
Hey HR, which hat are you wearing today?

Not all HR practitioners have regular exposure to occupational health matters. Think it’s not your space? Think again, with our series on HR's key role.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
April 6, 2023
HR - bridging the gap between employee engagement and health

HR practitioners have an important role to play in the health of the workforce - beyond the yoga classes and benefits packages.

Anna Linning
February 17, 2023
Getting the mix right for bio-psycho-social interventions

We recently sat down with Nick Kendrick, Clinical Lead at Axis to hear about his upcoming presentation for the 2022 ARPA National Conference, “Is there a vaccination for whiplash? Stress Inoculation Training for improving outcomes.” Nick’s presentation covers implementing targeted care for people with Whiplash-associated disorders – and we asked, what can occupational injury management professionals and employers learn from recent evidence?

Anna Linning
May 30, 2022
What do we know about Indigenous occupational health?

An Interview with Dr Brett Shannon. Dr Shannon is a Ngugi man and an OEP trainee with Phoenix Occupational Medicine. A strong advocate for positive change, he is also undertaking his PhD with University of Illinois, Chicago on the topic of Indigenous Occupational Health. Dr Shannon has worked in various roles within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Sector, including as previous chairperson to the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service.

Anna Linning
January 6, 2022
You're an Occupational WHAT? Occupational Health Nurse.

Occupational Health Nurses, Peter Gould (Work Health on Wheels) and Adrienne Tracy (Tracy Consulting) have generously shared their experiences with us.

Anna Linning
December 7, 2021
You're an Occupational WHAT? Occupational Hygienist

Peter Aspinall, a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH) at WSP generously shared his time to talk about where Occupational Hygiene fits into the mix.

Dr Kofi Afari
November 22, 2021
Setting expectations - are we making promises another professional was never meant to keep?

Dr Kofi Afari, a registrar from the specialty of Rehabilitation Medicine shares his reflections on expectation management, in the insightful article below.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
November 15, 2021
Who is a Workplace Rehabilitation Consultant?

So many titles, what do they all do?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
November 15, 2021
You wouldn't let your physio/EP do your brain surgery...

And neither should you risk your Workplace Health Surveillance

Dr Sid O'Toole
November 15, 2021
You’re an Occupational WHAT? Occupational and Environmental Physician

Dr Sid O'Toole shares his original "What is an OEP?" blog post

Anna Linning
January 6, 2022
An Occupational and Environmental Physician, an Occupational Hygienist, and an Occupational Therapist walk into a bar…

Join us for a socially distanced, double-vaccinated covid-safe QR code check in kind of event. Welcome to our new series - You’re an Occupational WHAT? Where we speak with several 'occupational' professionals to tease out, what is is each of us do and how we work together.

Anna Linning
November 18, 2021
You're an Occupational WHAT? Occupational Therapist

Jason Darbyshire, an Occupational Therapist (OT) at Strive was the first of our guests to sit down for a virtual coffee and chat about the role confusion in all things “Occupational”.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
March 29, 2021
Jab vs Job? Can an employer force an employee to have the COVID-19 Vaccination?

A panel webinar

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
Microblog #7 Good work helps produce a good RTW

Fear of reinjury, fear of failure and fear of legal proceedings can threaten to overwhelm workers and employers. Good communication and having good work available can help.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
Microblog #6 Overcoming fear in RTW

The key to overcoming fear in the RTW process is clear communication. And that needs to start with the diagnosis.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
Microblog #5 REST 2.0

You didn't think that we would only have 51 words to say about Rest did you?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
Microblog #4 Why recover at work?

Sometimes injured workers feel as if they need to be 100% better before they come back to work.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
Microblog #3 What does REST actually mean?

Fresh from our summer holidays, what we think of as 'rest' may be quite different to what we mean when talking about 'rest' after an injury.

February 17, 2021
Microblog #2 Plain speaking in RTW

161 words on why plain speaking can be so complicated. Based on Dr Sid O'Toole's presentation - Managing the Greatest Barrier to RTW : Fear.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
Microblog #1 Why get back to work?

146 words on why RTW is important. Based on Dr Sid O'Toole's presentation - Managing the Greatest Barrier to RTW : Fear.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
October 26, 2020
Is work above the shoulder a high-risk zone?

Applying the Occupational and Environmental Medicine lens to new research. In particular - we look at recent research highlighting the impact of work performed above shoulder height.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
October 19, 2020
Overcoming the greatest barrier to return to work - Fear (including a live Q & A)

Grab your lunch and watch Dr Sid O'Toole present for Safe Work Month - Wednesday 21 October at 12 midday. Listen carefully because at the end we'll be running a competition!

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
September 22, 2020
Liability, indoor air quality and COVID 19

In a year that has seen more unrest and upheaval than most, a new report from Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty has listed the top 5 liability risk trends likely to impact business and insurers.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
September 2, 2020
Download the recording of Crystal ball gazing: the future of work in a post COVID world

Download the recording of our recent webinar with Michelle Chadburn from HWL Ebsworth Workplace Relations and Safety Team and Dr Sid O'Toole

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
June 11, 2020
The new national workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica - takes effect from 1 July 2020

The workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica has been halved - and employers need to understand what they need to do.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
June 5, 2020
Crazy Socks for Docs 2020

We are wearing our crazy socks with Pride to raise awareness of doctors' mental health

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
June 1, 2020
Still working from home? 5 top safety risks to avoid

The kids have gone back to school so working from home is now bliss. Right? Let's re-check in on the 5 top work-from-home risks.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
June 1, 2020
Great candidate... but they have a health condition.

We know that we don’t live in an ideal world where every worker or candidate is the perfect picture of health and fitness.

Dr Angus Forbes
June 2, 2020
Mental health during a pandemic. Is your workplace prepared?

Webinar now available!

Dr Sid O'Toole
May 27, 2020
Reopening. When will it be safe to get back to work?

Dr Sid O'Toole's webinar is now available for download.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
April 28, 2020
Managing employee morale remotely

Even without the added pressures of a global pandemic, all too often, businesses will ask the question; how do we best manage employee morale?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
May 30, 2023
Occupational (tele)medicine - keeping workplaces well in a COVID-19 world

What workplaces need to know about how telemedicine can assist.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
April 2, 2020
Webinar now available to download - Managing the health of people working from home

Missed Dr Sid O'Toole's webinar on 26 March? Download it now!

Dr Sabrina Virji
March 17, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update for Workplaces

As the number of cases of COVID-19 increase locally and internationally, we look at preparations and protocols workplaces can implement.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
March 5, 2020
Site Visits

How many medical specialists would be familiar with the tasks and working environment of a coal mine, an abattoir or a sugar cane processing plant?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
February 17, 2021
The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace

Did you know mental illness is the leading cause of sick leave and long-term work incapacity?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
March 2, 2020
Cancer incidence among firefighters

A recent journal article of interest from International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, (Vol. 93, Issue 2)

Dr Sabrina Virji
February 14, 2020
2019 Novel Coronavirus

One of our registrars, Dr Sabrina Virji, attended a briefing by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the recent Coronavirus outbreak. Here’s what we know so far.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
January 23, 2020
Personal vehicles and workplace responsibility?

Greyfleet is a term used for any vehicle used for work-related purposes which is not directly provided for by the organisation that employs the driver. WorkSafe Qld has released a new guide on this topic.

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
January 23, 2020
Dr Sid O'Toole presenting on RTW for ASIEQ Panel

BT Lawyers is hosting ASIEQ's 'RTW Intervention - a practical discussion on how to improve claims outcomes through RTW intervention'

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
November 21, 2019
Taking better care of yourself might just help antibiotic over-prescribing

Antibiotics are overused in Australia. But why is this an issue for Occupational Health?

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
September 26, 2019
Dr O'Toole's appointment as Chair of the AFOEM QLD Regional Committee

Dr O'Toole's appointment as Chair of the AFOEM QLD Regional Committee

Phoenix Occupational Medicine
September 5, 2019
Working and Endometriosis White Paper

Working and Endometriosis - A new resource for the workplace

Dr Sid O'Toole
October 25, 2019
The Phoenix Focus - On The Right Track Assessment

As part of our ongoing education initiatives we would like to introduce you to "The Phoenix Focus'. Our first topic is Staying On The Right Track.

Book an appointment with one of our practitioners

Collation photo of Phoenix practitioners