Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA): How They Strengthen Your NDIS Plan

In the world of the NDIS, a diagnosis alone doesn’t tell the full story — what matters more is how a condition affects day-to-day life. That’s where a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) becomes so vital. It’s a detailed evaluation of a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks, and it helps turn lived experience into solid evidence for funding.

What Is a Functional Capacity Assessment?

An FCA assesses an individual’s functional performance — what they can do independently, where they need support, and how frequently or for how long. It’s focused on real-life activities, not just medical diagnoses. mycarespace.com.au+2Like Family+2

It typically covers several key domains:

• Mobility (walking, transferring, endurance)

• Self-care (bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming)

• Communication & social interaction

• Learning, planning & decision-making

• Self-management (organisation, medication, routines)

• Community participation / daily living tasks (shopping, transport, home duties) Like Family+2mycarespace.com.au+2

Why FCAs Matter for NDIS Planning

An FCA gives your planner or reviewer a clear, evidence-based picture of your functional limitations, which is critical in deciding what supports are reasonable and necessary. MD Homecare+2mycarespace.com.au+2

• It helps justify funding for personal care, assistive technology, therapy, or modifications. Personnel Group+2Ability Action Australia+2

• It offers a baseline to measure change over time — useful in future plan reviews. MD Homecare+2Therapy Connect+2

• It improves clarity: strong language, functional descriptions, and supporting evidence make your request more persuasive to NDIA planners.

Who Can Conduct an FCA?

While Occupational Therapists are the most common and appropriate professionals for full FCAs (because of their holistic view of function), other allied health professionals (physios, psychologists) may conduct functional assessments in their domain of expertise — particularly for mobility or cognitive function. Like Family+3Ability Action Australia+3MD Homecare+3

If an OT isn’t available, supporting evidence from GPs, therapists, carers, teachers, or support workers can complement an FCA or partially substitute limited assessment. Like Family+1

What the Process Looks Like

Here’s a typical structure for how an FCA is conducted:

1. Information gathering & interview
   The assessor reviews relevant medical, therapy, school or work reports, and interviews the participant (and carer or family) about daily challenges. Therapy Connect+2mycarespace.com.au+2

2. Functional observation / task assessment
   You’ll perform everyday tasks (e.g. getting dressed, preparing a simple meal) while the assessor observes support needs, safety, time, fatigue, and barriers. MD Homecare+2Therapy Connect+2

3. Use of standardised tools
   Where applicable, standardised assessments or measurement tools complement observations to add objectivity. MD Homecare+2Therapy Connect+2

4. Environmental assessment
   The assessor may examine or consider your home, access routes, and other settings to identify physical barriers or facilitators. Therapy Connect+2mycarespace.com.au+2

5. Report writing & recommendations
   The assessor produces a detailed report: background, functional findings, limitations, recommended supports (type, frequency, duration), and safety or risk considerations. Like Family+3MD Homecare+3mycarespace.com.au+3

6. Review & clarification
   You or your support coordinator may review the draft report, suggest clarifications or more examples, and confirm it reflects your lived experience.

Tips for a Strong FCA Outcome

• Be honest and realistic — show your typical performance (not only your best day).

• Describe fluctuations (good days / bad days), fatigue, or pain variation.

• Use concrete examples (how long tasks take, when you stop, what you can’t do safely).

• Provide collateral evidence: carer statements, therapy progress reports, school or work reports.

• Ensure language aligns with NDIS terminology (e.g. “requires assistance”, “cannot independently”, “substantial impairment”).

• Ask for a functional breakdown by domain so the report maps to support areas.

How to Use the FCA in Your NDIS Plan or Review

• Submit it with plan reviews, change of circumstances requests, or when requesting additional supports.

• Use the recommendations to align your requested supports (hours, equipment, therapy) with what the assessment says is needed.

• Share the report with all service providers (therapists, coordinators) so it’s understood.

• Revisit or update it when your functional capacity changes — it helps justify plan adjustments.

Occupational therapist helping participant with daily living activity – ProCare Solution NDIS support Brisbane Sunshine Coast Gold Coast