What exactly is an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)?
An NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment, or FCA, is a detailed assessment of how a person’s disability affects everyday activities, independence, safety, and participation. An occupational therapist may assess areas such as mobility, personal care, communication, cognitive tasks, domestic activities, and community access. The resulting report can help document support needs and inform recommendations for an NDIS plan or plan review.
What does an Occupational Therapist look at during an FCA?
An FCA goes beyond just a medical name for your condition. It focuses on how that condition actually impacts your day to day life. OTs look at six main areas that the NDIS cares about:
- Moving around: How easily and safely you move at home, get in and out of bed, use stairs, or get around your local area.
- Looking after yourself: Your ability to shower, dress, groom, cook meals, and take care of your personal hygiene on your own.
- Managing your life: How you handle things like taking medication, budgeting, making appointments, and solving everyday problems.
- Talking and connecting with others: Your ability to say what you need, understand others, and keep up your social relationships.
- Learning and thinking: How your memory, focus, and planning skills affect your ability to get things done.
- Getting out and about: Your capacity to join in social activities, work, study, or use public transport safely.
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Step by step checklist: Preparing for your NDIS FCA
Getting ready beforehand ensures your OT sees what your toughest days look like, not just when things are going well. Here is a simple four step plan to help you prepare:
- Pull together your health documents
Before the visit, grab copies of recent reports from your specialists, GPs, or other therapists, such as:
- Diagnosis reports or letters from specialists.
- Recent notes from your Dietitian, Speech Pathologist, or Physio.
- Your current NDIS plan and what you want to achieve with your funding.
- Keep a simple seven day diary
Try tracking your daily routine for a week before the assessment. Write down:
- When you needed a hand to get things done and who helped you.
- Times you felt pain, exhausted, anxious, or overwhelmed by noise or lights.
- Any slips, falls, or times when your equipment didn’t work quite right.
- Have your support people ready
You don’t have to do the assessment by yourself. You can have a family member, carer, support coordinator, or advocate there with you to make sure everything you struggle with is mentioned.
- Check out our downloadable guide
To see what a finished report looks like, take a look at our resource on NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment PDF frameworks and templates.
What happens during the in home FCA visit?
At Blue Fox Health, our OTs come right to your door in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Melbourne. We also connect with regional hubs across the country. The visit usually takes about 2 to 3 hours and includes:
- A good chat about your life: Talking through your health history, what you do each day, and your NDIS goals.
- Watching how you do things: Seeing how you handle everyday tasks at home, like moving through your house, using the kitchen, or getting up from a chair.
- Checking your home: Looking for anything that might be a risk or where changes to your home or new equipment might make things easier.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The home visit itself usually takes 2 to 3 hours. After that, the therapist spends another 6 to 15 hours analysing everything; assessments vary due to complexity. Each assessment is individual, so there is no direct answer on how long your report will take.
FCA costs may be claimed from an appropriate funding category, often Capacity Building; Improved Daily Living, where the assessment is related to disability supports and the participant’s plan allows it. Confirm the correct claiming arrangements with your provider or plan manager.
There is no universal expiry period for every FCA report. A newer assessment may be useful when your needs, living arrangements, goals, or requested supports have changed.
Still have questions?
If unsure, get the answers your looking for by calling the team on 0483 936 324
Book your assessment with no waitlists
If you need a solid report for an upcoming plan review, Blue Fox Health can help. We offer home visits with no waiting lists. Just fill out our NDIS referral form online or get in touch with our team today.