Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool

What is IAR-DST?

The Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) for Mental Healthcare Guidance and Decision Support Tool (DST) assists general practitioners and clinicians in recommending a level of care for a person seeking mental health support. Each level of care is based on the least intensive and least intrusive evidence-based intervention that will likely lead to the most significant possible gain.

The IAR is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (The Department) and brings together information from various sources, including Australian and international evidence and advice from leading experts. The Department is expanding through Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and implementing the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) into primary care settings to support General Practitioners and other specialists, allied health professionals, and referrers to recommend a level of care for a person seeking mental health support.

Access IAR-DST

IAR-DST Training

The training will focus on:

Introduction to IAR and the development of the National Guidance.
Orientation to the domains, levels of care, and decision support tool.
Clinical judgement and supported decision-making.
Application of the IAR in assessment and intake settings (practical activity using a scenario).

Learning Outcomes are:

Participants are familiar with the principles underpinning the national approach to stepped care.
Participants have an awareness of and confidence in the IAR development process.
Participants can apply the IAR Guidance in practice settings, using the domains and the decision support tool to generate a recommended level of care.
Participants understand the levels of care and can determine regional services matched against the levels of care.
Participants understand the principles related to clinical decision making and consumer choice and can practice following these principles using supported decision-making strategies.

The first component of the workshop focuses on an introduction and orientation to stepped care, the initial assessment and referral process and the decision support tool. The second component of the workshop is a practical activity focusing on a consumer vignette. It is a requirement of attendance that you read through the vignettes prior to this workshop. They can be found here.

Murrumbidgee PHN offers the following training options:

Scheduled online training delivered by MPHN. Please reach out to Jane Colwill via jane.colwill@mphn.org.au for further information. Additional online training sessions can be organised upon request.
Flexible two-part training. Workshop 1 is completed online via our online learning platform. Once completed, our Training and Support Officer (TSO) will be in contact to schedule a live training session for Workshop 2. Please reach out to Jane Colwill via jane.colwill@mphn.org.au for further information.
Scheduled online training delivered by IAR National Project Manager and The Department of Health and Aged Care (limited numbers).

For an organisation focused training session please email our Training and Support Officer (TSO) and she will contact you to schedule a specialised training session.

$300 remuneration per GP*

Once-off payment (exc. GST) provided direct to GPs or their practice upon completion of 2 hours of IAR training.

* Payment is available to GPs working in private practice or GPs working in Government funded Adult Mental Health Centres / Aboriginal Medical Services that attend outside of normal work hours. Payment is not available to other medical staff or clinicians.