National IAR Program

The Initial Assessment and Referral for Mental Healthcare Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The IAR Guidance provides support to clinicians regarding how to respond to people when they first 
ask for mental health support in primary care settings. It guides clinicians in considering what
information should be collected during a mental health assessment.

The decision support tool often referred to as the IAR-DST, is an aid that is designed to provide 
clinicians with an estimate of the intensity of the mental health response that the person may need. 
This could confirm your clinical judgement or bring further deliberation to the decision-making
process. The aim of using the tool is to connect the person seeking support with the right care as 
early as possible in their journey.