New decision support tool to help you connect your patients with the right mental health support, quickly.
The Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) is a decision support tool, to assist GPs (and other referrers) to find the most suitable level of care for patients, which can then be used to determine the appropriate service for the patient, at a local level. It provides a standardised, evidence-based and objective approach to assist with mental health care recommendations.
Brisbane North PHN offers training sessions to help general practitioners and GP Registrars understand how to use the IAR decision support tool.
The training will provide you with all the information you need to use the tool in a way that suits your practice. Brisbane North PHN training will provide information about local referral pathways and service providers, and the RediCASE eReferral tool. IAR-DST training is not mandatory.
IAR-DST training will be delivered via a two hour online Zoom session. Please see dates below and click on the links to register.
Thursday 30 January 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Register here
Wednesday 5 February 6.00 - 8.00 pm
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Friday 14 February 12.00 – 2.00 pm
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Thursday 20 February 6.00 – 8.00 pm
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Wednesday 26 February 6.30 – 8.30 pm
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Friday 7 March 12.00 – 2.00 pm
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Thursday 20 March 6.30 – 8.30 pm
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Friday 28 March 12.00 – 2.00 pm
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Wednesday 2 April 6.00 – 8.00 pm
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Wednesday 23 April 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Register here
The IAR guides clinicians to consider what information needs to be collected from patients, to conduct a patient-centred and holistic assessment.
Considerations include the availability of informal support (like family), life circumstances that may be impacting your patient, co-existing conditions, and the patient’s motivation to access supports. The information gathered is then used to recommend a service type and level of care (level of intensity) to help inform a referral decision made by the GP.
Your clinical judgement, combined with the IAR decision support tool, will ensure the person seeking support is directed to the most appropriate care – no matter where they sit along their recovery journey.
Using this support tool will help improve the efficiency of the mental health consultation, by streamlining the collection of relevant information.
The IAR can also be found in the RediCASE eReferral form, which can be integrated with Best Practice and Medical Director software. The RediCASE eReferral form is also available as an e-link however it does not have the full integration functionality.
The IAR is being progressively introduced across federal and state mental health services. Widespread uptake of the IAR means there will be consistency in the approach to assessment, referrals and service provision across the sector.
The IAR tool supports the stepped care approach to service delivery, which helps match people to the most appropriate services for their mental health needs.
The stepped care model comprises a continuum of interventions based on levels of resource intensity – from least to most intensive – matched to the individual’s needs. This approach also allows people to move easily between local services as their support needs change.
Please contact Stephen Giles on 07 3490 3426 or email if you have any questions about the IAR-DST or the IAR-DST training.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians within our region: the Jagera, Turrbal, Gubbi Gubbi, Waka Waka and the Ningy Ningy peoples of where we meet, work and learn. Brisbane North PHN is committed to reconciliation. Our vision for reconciliation is where the stories of our First Nations’ people are heard and shared, and networks are formed.