Definition: what an FCA actually documents
A Functional Capacity Assessment goes beyond diagnosis. The NDIA does not fund supports based on a medical condition — it funds them based on the way that condition limits everyday function. An FCA captures that translation in writing. Across the six NDIS functional capacity domains (communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care and self-management) — supplemented by broader analysis of domestic life, community participation, employment, safety and environmental factors where clinically relevant — the clinician documents the level of supervision, prompting, physical assistance, environmental modification and assistive technology a participant requires to safely complete daily tasks. The result is a comprehensive written report — tailored to the participant's complexity — used by Support Coordinators, plan managers, the NDIA and the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) to make funding decisions.
Who needs a Functional Capacity Assessment?
FCAs are most commonly requested for participants approaching a plan review, applying for the NDIS for the first time, requesting an unscheduled plan review due to a change in circumstance, transitioning from one support pathway to another (for example community living to SIL), or appealing an NDIA decision. They are also the default evidence for SIL, SDA, ILO, STA and assistive technology funding requests, and frequently form part of psychosocial recovery coach and Specialist Behaviour Support submissions.
Who can deliver an FCA?
Under NDIA evidence guidance, a Functional Capacity Assessment must be conducted by a suitably qualified allied health professional with current AHPRA registration. The most common assessor types are Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists — both professions are formally recognised by the NDIA as appropriate FCA assessors. FCA Reports Australia is an Occupational Therapist-led practice — every referral is allocated to an AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist with deep clinical depth across cognitive, sensory, psychosocial, motor and complex functional presentations, with multidisciplinary clinical oversight from our Director team.
Telehealth FCA vs in-person FCA
Since 2021, the NDIA has formally accepted telehealth as a legitimate FCA delivery mode where the clinician is satisfied they have gathered sufficient functional collateral. For most participants, telehealth FCAs (delivered via secure video) produce reports of equivalent clinical quality to in-person assessments in a fraction of the time — typically 5 business days end-to-end. The decision tree between telehealth and in-person depends on disability presentation, available collateral, and the specific functional questions the report needs to answer.
What does an FCA include?
A defensible FCA report includes: a clinical history and disability profile, a description of assessment methodology, a domain-by-domain functional analysis (with severity ratings and supporting evidence), recommendations for support hours and types, recommendations for assistive technology or home modifications where indicated, and a structured recommendations summary that maps directly onto NDIA plan-building decisions. Every recommendation must be tied to documented functional impact — speculative or aspirational recommendations are routinely rejected at plan-build.
- An FCA documents functional impact, not diagnosis — that's why it drives NDIS funding decisions.
- Must be completed by an AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
- Covers the six NDIS functional capacity domains — plus broader functional areas — with severity ratings and support recommendations.
- Telehealth FCAs are NDIA-accepted and typically completed in 5 business days.
- Forms the evidence base for SIL, SDA, ILO, STA, AT and plan reviews.
We deliver defensible NDIS FCA reports nationwide in 5 business days.
$2,910 inc. GST per FCA, SIL, SDA or ILO report — peer-reviewed, AHPRA-registered clinicians, telehealth Australia-wide.