IAR-DST National Training

The IAR Guidance (IAR) and Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) is designed to establish a national, standardised approach to conducting initial mental health assessments, and support general practitioners and other health professionals to recommend the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health support. The IAR and the IAR-DST are an Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aging initiative bringing together information from various sources, including Australian and international evidence and advice from various leading experts.

Online live workshop
The first component of the workshop will focus on:
– An introduction to the IAR and the development of the suite of guidance documentation, including stepped care in Australia.
– Orientation to the domains, levels of care, and decision support tool.

The second component of the workshop is an interactive practical activity, which includes:
– Application of the IAR-DST using a consumer scenario.
– Clinical judgement and supported decision-making.

Learning outcomes
1. Discuss the principles underpinning the national approach to stepped care.
2. Summarise the IAR development process.
3. Explain the use of the IAR Guidance in practice settings to generate a recommended level of care.
4. List the levels of care in relation to available regional services
5. Identify the principles related to clinical decision making and consumer choice

The workshop will be facilitated by an experienced IAR Training and Support Officer (TSO) from the National TSO Network.
The session teaches you how to use the IAR-DST, not how to conduct an assessment. The IAR-DST is not an assessment tool; it is a decision aid. Once you have completed a session you are able to use all adaptations of the IAR-DST.