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NDISSeptember 3, 20268 min read

What Happens During an Occupational Therapy Functional Capacity Assessment?

What Happens During an Occupational Therapy Functional Capacity Assessment?

Understanding what happens during a Functional Capacity Assessment can make the process much easier for NDIS participants and their families. An FCA is designed to understand how disability affects everyday functioning, independence and participation.

At Walnut Occupational Therapy, we aim to make the assessment process practical, respectful and focused on the person's real-life needs.

Step 1: Understanding your goals

Your occupational therapist will begin by discussing what matters most to you. This might include living more independently, improving personal care, returning to work, participating in education, accessing the community, improving safety or reducing reliance on informal supports.

Step 2: Understanding your daily routine

The assessment looks at everyday activities rather than diagnosis alone. You may be asked about your morning routine, personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, transport, communication, study, employment, social activities and community participation.

Step 3: Identifying functional difficulties

Your therapist may explore which tasks you can complete independently, which tasks require prompts or supervision, and which tasks require physical assistance.

Step 4: Observation

Depending on the assessment, your occupational therapist may observe how you complete relevant activities in your home or another appropriate environment.

Observation can provide useful information that may not be captured through conversation alone.

Step 5: Standardised assessments

Standardised assessment tools may be used where clinically appropriate. These tools can provide additional objective information about specific areas of functional performance.

Step 6: Identifying support requirements

The occupational therapist considers the type and frequency of assistance required, current supports, barriers to independence and potential strategies to improve functional participation.

Step 7: Recommendations

Recommendations are individualised. Depending on the person's needs, they may relate to therapy, assistive technology, equipment, environmental adjustments, home modifications or other practical supports.

Step 8: The FCA report

The final report documents relevant findings and explains how disability affects the participant's everyday functioning.

How to prepare for your FCA

  • Write down your main goals.
  • Think about difficult everyday activities.
  • Bring previous assessment reports.
  • Prepare information about current supports.
  • Consider safety concerns at home or in the community.
  • Think about what would help you become more independent.

Why detailed functional information matters

A useful assessment should explain the real-world impact of disability. Rather than simply stating that a person has difficulty with a task, strong functional evidence explains what happens, how often it happens, what assistance is required and what practical support may improve participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an FCA take?

The length varies depending on the complexity of the participant's needs and the scope of the assessment.

Can my family member or carer participate?

Family members, carers and support workers can provide valuable information about everyday functioning where appropriate and with the participant's consent.

Does an FCA only happen in the clinic?

Assessment methods depend on the individual and may include interviews, observation and functional assessment in relevant environments.

At Walnut Occupational Therapy, our therapists are skilled in conducting Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) via telehealth Australia-wide, providing a comfortable and convenient way to access an assessment from your own home. Telehealth can make the process easier and more accessible, particularly for people who may find travelling to a clinic difficult. Face-to-face (F2F) FCA services are also available in Melbourne for clients who prefer an in-person assessment.

Walnut Occupational Therapy supports NDIS participants across Melbourne with occupational therapy assessments designed around individual functional goals.