The Australian Department of Health is expanding and implementing the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) tool into primary care settings to support general practitioners and other specialists, allied health professionals and referrers to recommend a level of care for a person seeking mental health support based on the least intensive and least intrusive evidence-based intervention that will lead to the most significant gain.
The Guidance and Decision Support Tool for adults has been available for some time and is widely used.
In 2021-22, the Department commenced development of adapted guidance (called a ‘Lift Out’) and a Decision Support Tool for older adults (aged 65+). They are releasing the Lift Out for the purposes of consultation. The consultation findings will inform the finalisation of the older adults Lift Out and Decision Support Tool, which are scheduled for finalisation and trial in early 2022-23.
To review the draft documents, click here.
To complete the survey, click here.
Thank you for your contribution to this important initiative.
