Acquired Brain Injury FCA — NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment

Functional Capacity Assessments for Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) presents a uniquely complex challenge for NDIS evidence — the cognitive, behavioural, physical and psychosocial sequelae overlap in ways that generic functional assessments routinely miss. Our ABI FCAs are written by clinicians with formal experience in inpatient brain injury rehabilitation, community ABI case management and forensic disability assessment. We document the participant's pre-injury baseline, the injury mechanism and severity, the recovery trajectory and the present functional impact across all eight NDIS domains.

Common functional impacts after brain injury

Even mild ABI can produce profound functional load. Most participants we assess present with executive dysfunction (initiation, planning, working memory, mental flexibility), fatigue that disproportionately impacts later-day function, behavioural changes (disinhibition, irritability, emotional lability), and psychosocial sequelae including post-ABI depression and anxiety. Many also have physical sequelae — hemiparesis, balance deficits, post-traumatic epilepsy, or visual field defects. A defensible FCA documents the cumulative cost of these impairments on safe, sustainable daily function.

How an FCA supports NDIS funding for ABI

ABI participants frequently need to evidence supports that look like they 'shouldn't' be needed — for example, prompting for a participant who walks and talks normally. The FCA closes this gap by translating the participant's invisible cognitive and behavioural load into documented support requirements. We routinely use the Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory, the Care and Needs Scale (CANS) and structured cognitive screening to anchor recommendations. This drives funding decisions across Core (community access, daily personal activities), Capacity Building (psychology, OT, rehabilitation counselling) and where indicated, SIL.

Common support recommendations in ABI FCAs

Funded supports we typically evidence include: 1:1 support for cognitive prompting and community access, cognitive rehabilitation and compensatory strategy training, neuropsychology and clinical psychology for mood and behaviour, assistive technology for memory and routine (smart home devices, structured digital prompts), home modifications for fatigue management, and where indicated, structured SIL arrangements with staff training in trauma-informed and ABI-specific support practice.

Funding pathway

Want to understand how this evidence becomes NDIS funding?

Our NDIS Funding & FCA Evidence hub walks through the reasonable & necessary test, the three funding categories and how Functional Capacity Assessments anchor every decision.

NDIS Funding Evidence Hub How our FCAs are conducted