Mental health service referral form: secure webform guidance

Using secure webforms to refer people experiencing mental ill health to our referral and access team

NWMPHN’s secure webform is a user-friendly online form that talks directly to the system that our mental health referral and access team uses to process referrals. It is an alternative to Healthlink SmartForms (for those using HealthLink-enabled software) and our fax referral form (for those who prefer a paper-based option).

Click here to use and bookmark the secure webform

Read on for a more detailed guide, and step-by-step video.

  • Why switch to digital referrals?

    • No faxing or printing is needed.
    • Referrals are processed more rapidly, meaning consumers receive support faster.
    • Referrers get instant confirmation that referral has been received.
    • All information provided is securely stored.
    • Progress of the referral can be tracked throughout the process.

  • How to make a referral

    The secure form can be accessed here. It is accessible using any browser. No additional software is required.

    Once the form is open, gain consent from your patient, and tick the relevant box before proceeding.

    Please fill out as much detail as possible.

    There is a section for assessment based on the Australian Government’s Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST). This should be filled in only if you have completed IAR-DST training.

  • Where does the referral go?

    Once submitted, the referral is transmitted securely and directly into the NWMPHN Mental Health Referral and Access intake system. It allows clinicians to view and act on the referral without needing to re-enter data.

    It uses the same pathway as the Mental Health Service Referral form you may be currently using for referrals into CAREinMIND™, Medicare Mental Health and Head to Health services.

    The system also provides a link to a secure referral tracking page.

  • Attaching documents

    Documents such as Mental Health Treatment Plans or other mental health assessment documents can be attached to the webform. These must be in RTF, DOCX, or PDF formats.

  • Tracking your referral

    Once a referral has been submitted, you will have access to a tracking page.

    Click the button labelled “copy tracking link”. Access is once-only, so make sure you save it where you keep records for the patient.

    The tracking link can be pasted into a web browser to access the referral status page, which provides real-time updates on the referral as it progresses through all stages of the intake process.

    For more information, see this step-by-step video.