IAR-DST

The Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Decision Support Tool (DST) for mental healthcare

The Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) is an Australian Government initiative, implemented by the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department). The IAR Decision Support Tool (DST) was developed by the Department in response to the challenges facing clinicians and the community, in navigating mental health services.

The development of the IAR guidance and the DST was founded upon a ‘stepped care’ approach. Stepped care recognises that individuals presenting to the mental health system will have a spectrum of needs and therefore require a spectrum of services. The IAR-DST aims to support GPs and other clinicians refer their patients/clients to the level of care that best meets their needs, rather than a service that is less intensive than required, known as under-servicing, or more intensive than required, known as over-servicing. Under- and over-servicing each brings risk of poorer outcomes, negative attitudes towards help-seeking and can contribute to bottlenecks in the system.

The IAR-DST aims to create consistency and a common language amongst health professionals, enabling them to articulate treatment needs that will be understood across the sector. The DST is designed to be used alongside a comprehensive mental health assessment and promote shared decision-making between individuals and medical professionals. It is not an assessment tool.

Where might you come across the IAR-DST?

1. Your GP or health care provider might use the IAR-DST to help discuss the recommended services to assist you with your mental health needs.
2. If you call the Head to Health Intake Line, on 1800 595 212, the clinician answering your call will use the IAR-DST to determine what kinds of supports are most appropriate for your needs.

Can you use the IAR-DST yourself?

No. The IAR-DST is a tool developed for mental health practitioners and GPs to use to assist in referring you to the most appropriate service/s. The DST does not replace clinical judgement of the referrer but is used to support and guide referral decisions, along with your preferences.

Download IAR Summary Levels of Care