Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST)

Last updated 7 July 2026
Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST)
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The Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) for Mental Health

The IAR Guidance for Mental Health and IAR Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) was developed by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The IAR is designed for use by Australian health professionals when a person presents to primary care for assistance for their mental health, or when the health professional providing the service identifies the person may be experiencing possible mental health symptoms and/or psychological distress. Brisbane South PHN is supporting the implementation of the IAR-DST across the region.

The IAR is intended to assist Australian health professionals to decide the most appropriate level of care a patient will need across five levels of care in an Australian stepped care model.

The IAR Guidance documentation includes a suite of documents providing information about the IAR and how to use it appropriately and effectively with people of different ages who present to the Australian primary care system with mental health symptoms and/or psychological distress.

There are separate rating guides available for use with:

  • Children (aged 5-11)

  • Adolescents (aged 12-17)

  • Adults (aged 18-64)

  • Older adults (aged 65 and over).

Whilst the IAR uses age to indicate the overall appropriateness of each rating guide, the final decision about the most appropriate rating guide to use should be based on the clinical judgment of the user, considering contextual and developmental factors.

When using the IAR-DST, a person seeking mental health support has their experiences understood in the context of 8 holistic domains. The eight domains help to distil essential assessment information and amplify key signals (e.g. red flags) critical for decision-making. A person’s treatment needs, and recovery goals are understood and matched to a service type and intensity based on the least intensive and least intrusive evidence-based intervention that will likely lead to the most significant possible gain.

Why use the IAR Guidance and IAR-DST?

  • Widespread use of the IAR-DST improves the awareness of and transparency about how

    decisions relating to referral appropriateness are made – reducing some of the frustration that

    occurs with referrals not being accepted by service providers.

  • Using a standardised tool like the IAR-DST helps referrers record and communicate initial

    assessment and referral information and articulate treatment needs using language commonly

    understood across the sector.

  • Equips users with a framework for documenting decision-making.

Attend IAR-DST training

Training includes:

  • an introduction to the IAR-DST and the development of the National Guidance

  • the eight domains and five levels of care

  • how to effectively use the IAR-DST, including an interactive practical activity

Training is designed for the health workforce involved in mental health assessment and referral processes including GPs, GP Registrars, mental health nurses, allied health professionals and anyone else working in the mental health space.

This training activity is accredited by the RACGP and ACRRM. 

There are currently two training options available

Online live workshop (2 hours)

The workshop will be facilitated by an experienced IAR Training and Support Officer (TSO) from the National TSO network. Download the National Training Flyer below and register for a session that works best for you. A certificate of attendance will be provided to all attendees to claim relevant CPD hours. 

Download the National Training Flyer

eLearning module

The self-paced eLearning module is designed for health professionals who are suitably qualified and experienced in mental health assessment and/or treatment. This flexible online format enables health professionals to complete training at a time and place that suits their needs.

This is a RACGP and ACRRM approved activity, and a certificate of attendance will be issued to self-report hours.

For more information on this format, please refer to this video.

Register for the eLearning module here. 

For enquires relating to the IAR-DST, please email [email protected].