NDIS updates
How to Prepare for an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment
You do not need to perform or prove anything during an FCA. A little preparation can, however, help your occupational therapist understand an ordinary day more clearly.
Key points
- You do not need to perform or prove anything during an FCA.
- A little preparation can, however, help your occupational therapist understand an ordinary day more clearly.
Start with the reason for the referral
Before the appointment, ask what question the assessment needs to answer. It may be a broad review of daily function, evidence for a plan reassessment, a change in living arrangements, or a closer look at support, equipment or safety needs.
Knowing the purpose helps the occupational therapist focus on the right activities and environments. Your Support Coordinator, family member or referring health professional can help clarify this if needed.
Documents that may be useful
You do not need to collect every report you have ever received. Recent, relevant information is usually more useful than a large bundle of repeated documents.
- Your current NDIS plan and stated goals
- Recent medical or allied health reports
- Hospital discharge information, if relevant
- Current support rosters or care schedules
- Equipment lists, behaviour support plans or risk information
- Notes about recent changes in function, housing or informal support
Think about a usual day
It can help to work through a normal weekday and weekend. Consider what you do independently, what takes longer, what you avoid, where another person steps in and what happens on a difficult day.
Try not to describe only your best day or only your worst day. Variability, fatigue, pain, sensory needs and the difference between doing a task once and doing it safely and reliably all matter.
Who should attend?
The participant's voice should remain central. A family member, support worker, Support Coordinator or other trusted person may also contribute useful examples when the participant agrees. Their role is to add context, not speak over the participant.
For a Telehealth FCA, check the device, internet connection and camera position beforehand. Have medications, equipment or relevant parts of the home nearby only when it is safe and useful to show them.
Local and regional appointments
Mobile assessment is available across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan and nearby service areas. For Scenic Rim, Northern Rivers and rural communities, Telehealth can be combined with face-to-face outreach when an in-person observation is clinically important.
If you are unsure what to send, make the referral first. The practice can then confirm which documents and participants will be useful for your particular assessment.
Check the assessment purpose and appointment format
You do not need to buy new equipment or rehearse a task for the assessment. Tell us about access needs, communication preferences and anything that would make an activity unsafe. We confirm availability and the assessment scope before booking.
References and further reading
This article provides general information only. NDIS rules and individual circumstances can change; check current official guidance or seek advice about your situation.
Need an assessment or ongoing occupational therapy?
We respond to every referral within two business days, with mobile visits across South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers and Telehealth Australia-wide.