Getting to know you
We start with a conversation — your history, your goals, your daily routines, and the people and supports in your corner. The full picture matters more than any checklist.
The essentials
What is a Functional Capacity Assessment?
A Functional Capacity Assessment — often called an FCA or functional capacity evaluation — is a comprehensive occupational therapy assessment of how you manage everyday life. It looks beyond diagnosis to what matters most: what you can do, what you find hard, and the supports that would make the biggest difference.
For NDIS participants, an FCA is often the key piece of evidence in a plan review, a change of circumstances, or a request for home and living supports such as SIL or SDA. A strong FCA doesn't just describe difficulties — it connects your functional needs to the funding categories the NDIA uses, in language planners understand.
Our all-inclusive FCA package is 15 total hours, costing $2,909.85 at $193.99 per hour. This includes assessment appointments, liaison, analysis and report writing — not 15 hours of appointments. For detailed home and living evidence, our SIL or Support Care Needs package is 25 hours and our SDA package is 30 hours. See our assessment pricing or SIL and SDA assessment information to choose the appropriate package.
The process
What an FCA involves
Real-world observation
Assessment happens where life happens — at home, in the community, or via Telehealth. We look at self-care, mobility, communication, domestic tasks, and community participation as they actually unfold.
Standardised assessment tools
Where useful, validated OT assessment tools add objective measurement to clinical observation, strengthening the evidence behind every recommendation.
Clear evidence for funding decisions
You receive a clear, evidence-based report written for the NDIA, support coordinators, and your wider team — with functional findings, justified recommendations, and goals that reflect what you actually want.
NDIS FCA preparation
How to prepare for your NDIS FCA
You do not need to prepare anything formal — the assessment works best when we see a normal day. That said, a few things make the report stronger and save time for everyone involved.
Appointment preparation checklist
Gather your current plan and reports
Your current NDIS plan, any previous OT or allied health reports, specialist letters and discharge summaries. We use them rather than repeating assessments you have already had.
Think about the hard parts of the day
Showering, meals, sleep, transport, appointments, school or work, and getting out into the community. Noting where things go wrong helps us record support needs accurately.
Write down your goals
What you want to be doing in the next twelve months, in your own words. Goals shape the recommendations we can justify to the NDIA.
Include the people who help
Family, carers, support workers, teachers or your support coordinator are welcome to be there or contribute by phone, especially for overnight and behaviour support needs.
Have equipment and the home visible
Show us the equipment you use and the parts of the home that cause problems — steps, bathrooms, doorways. Photos are fine for Telehealth appointments.
Book with your review date in mind
Reports are delivered within 10 business days of the final session, so allow a few weeks before a plan reassessment or funding request deadline.
Is this you?
Who needs an NDIS FCA?
An FCA with an occupational therapist is one of the most versatile assessments in the NDIS toolkit. It's commonly requested when the NDIA needs current, objective evidence of functional capacity — and it's just as valuable for participants who simply want their plan to reflect their real life.
Gold Coast · Adelaide · Riverland · Mackay Riverland & Surrounding SA Telehealth Australia-wide
Choose your local FCA service
- Participants preparing for an NDIS plan review or reassessment
- People applying for SIL, SDA, or other home and living supports
- Participants whose needs or circumstances have changed
- Support coordinators building evidence for funding requests
- Adults, adolescents, and children with disability across all ages
- Families and carers who need a clear picture of day-to-day support needs
Common questions
FCA questions, answered
Ready to get started?
Refer online in a few minutes, or reach out directly — we'll talk through what's needed and give you an honest timeframe.
FCAs by region: Gold Coast, Brisbane or Australia-wide via Telehealth.
Support coordinators can read our referral information, explore more clinical services or learn about your occupational therapist.