Functional capacity assessment in Australia

What a functional capacity assessment is

A functional capacity assessment (FCA) is a detailed evaluation of how a disability affects your everyday life. A qualified allied health professional, usually an occupational therapist, looks at what you can do on your own, where you need support, and how much. They write this up as a report with clear, evidence-based recommendations.

For the NDIS, an FCA is often the strongest piece of evidence you can put in front of the NDIA. It links your functional limitations to the supports you are asking for, which is exactly what the agency needs to fund supports as reasonable and necessary.

Carevo is a connection platform. We do not conduct assessments ourselves. We match you with independent OTs and allied health providers in Australia who carry out FCAs and write NDIS-ready reports.

When you need one

An FCA is usually requested for:

• An NDIS plan review, when your current funding does not match the support you actually use.
• An NDIS access request, to show your functional capacity is substantially reduced.
• Specialist funding requests such as SDA, SIL, assistive technology, or home modifications.
• Other claims that need functional evidence, including a Disability Support Pension application, workplace accommodations, or transition planning (for example school to work, or hospital to home).

NDIS eligibility is also moving toward this kind of evidence. From 1 January 2028, access is set to be based on a standardised assessment of functional capacity rather than diagnosis alone. People who do not qualify for the NDIS may be able to use the new foundational supports program, and NDIS navigators are a new role being introduced to help people understand their options.

What it assesses

A comprehensive FCA looks across the areas of daily life, typically:

• Self-care: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating.
• Mobility: walking, transfers, wheelchair use, getting around the home and community.
• Domestic life: cooking, cleaning, shopping, managing money and the household.
• Community and participation: social activities, transport, work, study.
• Communication and cognition: speech, memory, problem-solving, decision-making.
• Psychosocial functioning: mental health, coping, social skills.

To gather this, the assessor uses validated assessment tools, observes you carrying out real tasks, interviews you and your support people, reviews your existing reports, and where relevant looks at your home environment. The finished report sets out the findings by area and ties each one to specific support recommendations and funding.

Who can conduct one

Occupational therapists carry out most FCAs. Depending on the focus, a physiotherapist (physical function and mobility), speech pathologist (communication and swallowing), or psychologist (cognitive and psychosocial) may do the assessment, sometimes as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The assessor must hold relevant professional registration (for example AHPRA) and have experience with NDIS assessments. NDIS provider registration is only mandatory when your funding is NDIA-managed. If you are self-managed or plan-managed, you can use an unregistered provider.

How funding works

For most participants, an FCA is funded under Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living. If you are applying for the NDIS for the first time, the assessment may instead fall under assessment for supports. Your support coordinator or plan manager can confirm what is available in your plan.

Under the 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, occupational therapy is capped at $193.99 per hour. A full FCA covers several hours of face-to-face assessment plus report writing, so the total depends on how complex your needs are and how long the assessor takes. For 2026-27, provider travel, non-face-to-face work, and NDIA-requested reports are listed as separate line items rather than folded into the hourly rate, with therapy travel time charged at 50% of the service rate.

At the $193.99 hourly cap, a comprehensive FCA, which usually involves several hours of assessment plus report writing (commonly around 8 to 15 hours in total), works out to roughly $1,500 to $3,000. A shorter, focused assessment costs less. Ask the provider for an estimate of hours before you book.

How an FCA compares to other NDIS assessments

People often mix up the different assessments. Here is how the common ones differ.

	Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)	OT Home Assessment	Speech Pathology Assessment	Psychological Assessment
Primary focus	Overall daily functioning across all life areas	Home safety, equipment, modifications	Communication and swallowing	Cognitive, emotional, behavioural functioning
Who does it	OT (most common), physio, or multidisciplinary team	Occupational therapist	Speech pathologist	Psychologist
Best used for	Plan reviews, initial access, SDA/SIL applications	Equipment requests, home modifications	Communication device funding, mealtime management	Behaviour support, capacity building justification

For a closer look at what a strong report contains, read our post on functional capacity assessment report examples. You can also review common NDIS functional capacity assessment questions to prepare.

How to get matched in Australia

1. Tell us about the person needing the assessment and what it is for (plan review, access request, specific funding).
2. We match you with OTs and allied health providers in Australia who do FCAs.
3. You compare providers, confirm fees and timeframes, and book directly with the one you choose.

Before you book, it is worth asking each provider about their NDIS assessment experience, which tools they use, how long the assessment takes, and when you will receive the report. Worker screening and registration vary by provider, so ask each one directly.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a functional capacity assessment? A detailed evaluation by a qualified allied health professional, usually an occupational therapist, that measures how well you manage everyday tasks: personal care, household activities, community participation, mobility, communication, and cognition. The assessor produces a written report with evidence-based recommendations for NDIS supports.

How long does it take? A comprehensive FCA usually involves several hours of face-to-face assessment, sometimes across two sessions, plus report writing time. You can generally expect the finished report within 2 to 4 weeks of the assessment.

How much does it cost, and does the NDIS cover it? Occupational therapy is capped at $193.99 per hour under the 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, and an FCA is normally funded from your Capacity Building (Improved Daily Living) budget. First-time applicants may have it funded under assessment for supports. Check your available funding with your support coordinator or plan manager.

How should I prepare? Gather your existing medical reports, therapy notes, and current NDIS plan. Write down your daily routine and the tasks you find hard. Be honest about both your good and bad days, and demonstrate your typical performance rather than your best effort. Bring a support person if that helps you feel comfortable.

Use Carevo to find providers in Australia who deliver an accurate functional capacity assessment that reflects your real support needs. Call 1800 953 253 to get started.