What Goes in an FCA Report?
An FCA report sets out how a person's disability affects each area of daily life, how the assessor found that out, and what supports would help. For the NDIA it should be recent, specific to the person, written by a relevant treating professional, and clear about the link between the impairment, the day-to-day impact and each recommendation.
What Does the NDIA Look for in a Report?
The NDIS says good evidence covers the disability, its impact on different areas of life, treatments so far and future options.
- The primary disability and the impairments it causes
- How the impairment affects each area: communication, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management and social interaction
- Previous treatments and what happened, and future treatment options
- The tasks the person needs help with, and the type of help (physical assistance, guidance, supervision or prompting)
- Who wrote it, their qualifications and how long they've worked with the person
What Does a Typical FCA Report Include?
Practices use their own formats, but most reports have the same building blocks.
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Background | Diagnosis, history, living situation, informal supports and goals |
| Method | Who was spoken to, what was observed, where, and which standardised tools were used |
| Findings by area | Functional capacity in each of the six areas, with examples and scores |
| Support needs | What help is needed, how often and when across a typical day and week |
| Recommendations | Supports, therapy, equipment or housing, with the reason for each and how it links to the person's goals |
Need a Functional Capacity Assessment?
We'll connect you with an occupational therapy practice that does FCAs and may have space.
What Makes Recommendations Useful to the NDIA?
Specific recommendations, linked to evidence, that the NDIA can match to an NDIS support.
The NDIA can only fund supports its rules allow, and it looks at how supports work together as a package. A recommendation that explains what the support is, how much is needed, why, what other options were considered and how it helps the person work towards their goals is easier to act on than a general statement. For home and living requests, the NDIA specifically asks for daily support and housing needs, including how often and when support is needed, and what other options were explored.
What Should You Check Before the Report Goes In?
That it describes the person accurately, on a typical day and a hard day.
- Ask to read the draft and correct anything that's wrong or missing
- Check it's dated and recent enough for what it's for. For a plan reassessment the NDIA usually wants evidence from within 4 months and after the current plan was approved
- Check it covers the purpose: access, a reassessment, SIL, SDA, AT or a review
- Keep a copy. You choose who it goes to, and you can send it to the NDIA through the service hub, by mail or in person
Questions People Ask
Who owns the FCA report?
You should get a copy. Ask the practice how they'll share it, and who with, before the assessment starts, and put it in the service agreement.
Does the NDIA have an FCA report template?
Not for FCAs generally. The NDIA has templates for some specific assessments, such as general assistive technology and home modification assessments.
How long is an FCA report?
It varies with the purpose and the person. The NDIA cares more that it's specific, recent and clear than about length.
What if the NDIA says the report isn't enough?
It may ask for more information or another report. You can ask what's missing, and you can ask for a review of a decision within 3 months.
Keep Reading
- What an FCA assessesWhat a functional assessment for the NDIS looks at: the six areas of daily life, the tasks observed and the standardised tools the NDIA prefers by disability.
- How to prepare for an FCAA checklist for a functional capacity assessment: what to gather, how to describe a typical day and a hard day, who to bring and what to ask the assessor.
- FCAs for SIL and SDAUsing a functional capacity assessment as home and living evidence for SIL, SDA and other supports: what the NDIA asks it to show and how to send it.
- FCA for a plan reassessmentUsing a functional capacity assessment for an NDIS plan reassessment: what counts as a significant change, how recent evidence must be and when to book.
- What an FCA costsWhat a functional capacity assessment costs: the 2026-27 NDIS hourly price limit for OTs, what adds hours, which budget pays and how to get an estimate.
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