Join us for an information session on the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Decision Support Tool (DST) for Mental Healthcare.

The IAR- DST was developed by The Department of Health and Aged Care and is being implemented nationally, with the aim of standardising communications about patient treatment needs and encouraging appropriate referrals across the sector.

CESPHN is hosting weekly IAR training for GPs and Allied Health Professionals and encouraging uptake of the DST into clinical practice. Currently the IAR-DST is being used for intake and triage processes in the Head to Health Statewide phone line and Head to Health (Medicare Mental Health) Centres nationally, by the CESPHN Mental Health Intake and Triage team to assess suitability for referrals into commissioned services (PSS, PICS, Telehealth Psychiatry Service) and by LHDs in other states for Intake and Triage purposes.

This information session has been tailored to LHD staff, aiming to assist with the implementation of the DST within primary care and provide consistent information across the sector. Awareness of the IAR-DST is important to encourage appropriate referrals into and from the hospital system into primary care services, making sure everyone is familiar with the terminology and what that means in terms of patient needs.

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 having worked predominantly with adolescents and families, with her most recent work in the AOD sector facilitating groups and delivering training.