Questions and Answers
functionalcapacityassessment.com.au is a free, independent service that connects people on the NDIS with practices that do functional capacity assessments. Here are the questions people ask most, about FCAs and about how we work. Our guides go into each topic in more depth.
About Functional Capacity Assessments
What is a functional capacity assessment?
An assessment of how disability affects what a person can do day to day, across communication, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management and social interaction. The report is evidence for NDIS decisions.
Who can do an FCA?
The NDIS names occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and medical specialists who are qualified to make the assessment.
How long does an FCA take?
The NDIS says anywhere from 1 to 10 hours, depending on the health professional and the disability. Ask for an estimate before it starts.
What does an FCA cost?
Practices charge by the hour. For NDIA-managed and plan-managed funding, an occupational therapist can charge up to $193.99 an hour in most of Australia under the 2026-27 Pricing Schedule.
Is an FCA the same as an insurance FCE?
No. A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) in workers' compensation or insurance is about returning to work. An NDIS FCA is about daily life with disability.
Is the NDIS changing how assessments work?
The NDIA says it will introduce support needs assessments from April 2027 as part of a new way of planning. Until then it relies on evidence from treating professionals.
Using This Service
What does this service do?
We connect NDIS participants, families and support coordinators with practices that do functional capacity assessments. You answer a few questions, we pass your details to one suitable practice, and they contact you.
Does it cost anything?
No. It's free for you. Practices pay us for introductions, which is how we keep it free. The assessment is charged by the practice.
Are you part of the NDIS?
No. We're an independent service. We're not part of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and we don't do assessments.
How soon will someone contact me?
It depends on the practice. We follow up to check you were contacted. If you haven't heard back, email us and we'll chase it.
Do you cover my area?
We take enquiries from every state and territory, for in-person and telehealth assessments. Put the person's postcode in the form.
Can I use this if we're still applying to the NDIS?
Yes. Tell us where things are at. Before there's a plan, an FCA is usually paid privately, and it isn't required to apply.
Your Details
Who sees my details?
Only the practice we match you with. If they can't help, we pass your details to another practice, one at a time, up to 3 in total. Nobody else gets them for their own marketing.
Can I change my mind?
Yes. Email hello@functionalcapacityassessment.com.au and we'll stop passing your details on and let any practice we've introduced you to know.
Why do you ask about disability and funding?
So the practice can tell straight away whether they can help, and you don't have to explain everything twice. We ask for your consent first because this is sensitive information.
For Support Coordinators and Practices
Can I refer a participant?
Yes. Use the referral form. Please check the participant, or their nominee, agrees to the referral first. We'll let you know who's picking it up.
We're an OT practice that does FCAs. Can we join?
If your practitioners are Ahpra registered and you're taking new FCA referrals, register your interest on the practices page and we'll be in touch.
New to FCAs? Start with what an FCA is or all our guides.
Need a Functional Capacity Assessment?