General Practitioners, we are seeking your valuable input into the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) project, worth $34.2 million nationally in the latest Commonwealth budget.

What is the IAR-DST project about?

Australia wide, the Department of Health is introducing the IAR-DST to help GPs make decisions when matching patients’ mental health needs with the right level of service intensity, at the right time.

The Department is prioritising the training of 20,000 General Practitioners nationwide and will reimburse General Practitioners $300 for completing a 2-hour group training workshop.

Widespread uptake of the IAR-DST aims to create nationwide common language across the mental health sector about what level of service intensity a person requires (Level 1 through to Level 5). 

How can GPs get involved?

GPs, at this stage in the rollout, SEMPHN would love to reimburse you for an hour of your time to consult with you about the ‘who, what, when, how’ of the training rollout – either by phone, online or in person – whatever suits you.

This GP consultation process will help ensure that we design the two-year training schedule and delivery method around GP’s needs.

If you’re interested, please get in touch ASAP with Natalie Eckberg via email IAR-DST@semphn.org.au.