Functional Capacity Assessments
A functional capacity assessment describes what your child can do independently, what they need help with, and what support would make a genuine difference. It is the evidence the NDIS uses to understand your child's daily functioning, and it needs to be specific, accurate and grounded in real observation.
What a Functional Capacity Assessment Is
It is a structured assessment of how your child manages the ordinary business of their day across the domains the NDIS considers: self-care, mobility, communication, social interaction, learning and self-management. Rather than a diagnosis, it describes function, the practical gap between what is expected at your child's age and what they can currently manage.
Who It Is For
Families preparing for an NDIS planning meeting or plan review, families whose circumstances have changed, and families who have been asked for functional evidence to support a request for funded supports.
What the Process Looks Like
We gather information from you first, because you see your child across every part of their week. We then use standardised tools and structured observation, and where it is useful and you consent, we seek input from school, kindy or other professionals involved in your child's care. We look at your child in the settings that matter, not only in a clinic room.
What the Report Covers
A description of your child's functional strengths and needs across the relevant domains, the impact on daily life and family functioning, the supports currently in place, and clear, reasoned recommendations. Reports are written in the language the NDIS expects and reviewed by a senior clinician before they are provided to you.
Timeframes and Reviews
Good functional assessment takes time to do properly, and the report takes time to write. We will give you a realistic timeframe up front, and we will tell you if your plan review date makes that timeframe tight so you can plan around it.
What We Cannot Do
We cannot guarantee a funding outcome. Decisions about what the NDIS funds are made by the NDIA, not by us. What we can do is make sure the evidence about your child's functioning is accurate, specific and well documented.
What a Functional Capacity Assessment Covers
You should not have to become an expert in NDIS language to get your child the right support. That part is our job.
Questions Parents Ask Us
Do I need a functional capacity assessment for my NDIS plan?+
Not always. It depends on your child, your plan and what has been requested. We can talk it through with you before you commit to anything.
How long does the report take?+
It depends on how much information needs to be gathered. We give you a realistic timeframe at the start, and we flag it early if your review date makes that tight.
Can you use an existing assessment?+
Sometimes. If your child has had recent assessment work, bring it. We would rather build on good evidence than repeat it unnecessarily.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a free, no-pressure guidance call. We'll talk through what you're noticing and what the next step could look like. No referral is needed to get started.