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 Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and brings together information from various sources, including Australian and international evidence and advice from leading experts.
The IAR-DST has been developed to address common challenges amongst referrers in determining the most appropriate level of mental health care and services required for patients and clients.
The tool collects ratings across 8 primary and contextual domains to determine the level of care required by an individual at that point in time.
Currently, the IAR-DST is being used across a number of services including but not limited to Medicare Mental Health Centres, Medicare Mental Health Phone Service and some PHN commissioned services and State Based services.
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.
Training opportunities:
There are currently two options to complete the training:
Online live workshop (2 hours): Provided by Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN). For upcoming workshop dates and registration click here.
e-Learning module: A self-paced e-Learning Module has been designed for health professionals who are suitably qualified and experienced in mental health assessment and/or treatment. This provides flexibility for health professionals to complete training at a time and place that suits their needs. More information can be found in this video.
Two CPD hours
Training sessions are CPD accredited activities with RACGP and ACCRM.
For more information
Maja Asmus
Acting Senior Lead Priority Populations
0448 916 396
Maja.Asmus@mphn.org.au