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The Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) provides a standardised, evidence-based and objective approach to assist GPs and mental health clinicians with mental health care recommendations.
The IAR-DST has been used in the Gold Coast region within the centralised intake since 2020. Availability of the IAR-DST is now expanding into primary care settings. It is anticipated that use of the IAR-DST will become standard practice in many settings nation-wide over the coming years as all Commonwealth funded services progressively begin using the IAR-DST and State and territory mental health services explore the tool.
The IAR-DST complements clinical judgement to assist with determining the most appropriate referral option to provide the best support for patients. Use of the tool supports common language between referrers and services and helps to connect people with the right service initially, helping to save time and frustration managing rejected referrals.
A person seeking mental health assistance has their experience understood in the context of a holistic assessment which covers 8 domains, the domains help to distil essential assessment information and amplifies red flags.
The 8 assessment domains are:
Following assessment in the context of the 8 domains a person’s treatment needs and recovery goals are understood and matched to a service type within the 5 levels of care based on the least intensive and least intrusive evidence-based intervention that will likely lead to the most significant gain.
Both locally and nationally delivered training opportunities are now available. The training is designed to provide you with all the information you need to use the tool in your everyday practice. Even if you do not use it every day, the training will provide you with options to collaborate with others to use the tool in a way that suits your practice.
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.
GPs are able to self-report to RACGP for CPD hours.
Upon completing training, GPs and GP registrars are eligible to receive a one-off incentive payment of $300 (GST excl.)* GCPHN will contact you on the email used to register for national training once completed to provide local information and an invoice template.
If you would like to arrange a locally delivered face to face IAR training session for your service or practice, please email IAR-DST@gcphn.com.au
Online workshops are now available for registration. Please only register for one workshop.
Participant limits apply. If you cannot attend the workshop after registering, please cancel your registration to free up space for a participant on the waiting list.
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