All CESPHN staff are invited to join us for training in the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) for Mental Healthcare.

The National IAR Guidance and IAR-DST were developed by the Australian Department of Health and is designed to provide:

• Advice relating to initial assessment and intake (the eight domains).
• A description of evidence-based services by level of intensity (the five levels of care).
• Criteria to assist with matching an individual to a level of care that is most likely to meet the individual’s treatment needs and recovery goals (the IAR-DST).

The training will focus on:

1. Introduction to IAR and the development of the National Guidance.
2. Orientation to the domains, levels of care, and decision support tool.
3. Clinical judgement and supported decision-making.
4. 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.

It is a requirement of attendance that you read through the vignettes and the IAR-DST domains prior to this workshop. They can be found here.

It is also suggested to familiarise yourself with the online IAR-DST which can be found here. In particular, the 8 Domains and their descriptors.

Presenter – CESPHN IAR-DST Training and Support Officer Amy Steven will facilitate the training. Amy has extensive knowledge of mental health presentations and interrelated complexities in treatment and safety planning. She is a qualified counsellor and has worked with children, adolescents and families with her most recent work being in the AOD sector facilitating groups, providing counselling and delivering training.

Target audience: All CESPHN staff

**The IAR-DST may only be completed by a clinician who is competent to perform a mental health assessment. Completion of the IAR-DST by non-clinical staff may only occur if they have immediate access to supervision from, and their decision making is overseen by a suitably qualified mental health professional, or if they have formalised training in mental health assessment and referral. Please contact the team for further information if required.