Understanding Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA) in the NDIS: What Clients Need to Know

Written By Catherine Mendoza

Learn what a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) is, how it supports your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan, and why it’s vital for people with psychosocial disability to receive fair and personalised support.

What Is an FCA?

An FCA is a professional report that explains how your disability affects your daily life and what supports you need to live independently.
Under the NDIS, it’s not your diagnosis that determines your eligibility, it’s how your condition impacts your ability to function across different areas of life such as:

  • Communication

  • Learning and thinking

  • Self-care

  • Social interaction

  • Self-management

  • Mobility

  • Work and community participation

The FCA paints a clear picture of how your mental health or psychosocial condition influences these areas and what supports can help you thrive.

Why FCAs Matter for People with Psychosocial Disability

If you live with a disability that affects your daily life, for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD, your capacity might fluctuate.
Some days you might feel confident and independent, while on other days tasks like cooking, cleaning, or leaving the house may feel overwhelming.

An FCA helps capture this real-life variation so the NDIS can understand:

  • What you can do on your best days and hardest days

  • What happens without supports (e.g. falls, isolation, relapse, or hospitalisation)

  • What kinds of help you need to stay safe and achieve your goals

Who Completes the FCA?

Usually, an Occupational Therapist (OT) or another qualified allied health professional will complete the FCA.
They assess your:

  • Strengths and challenges

  • Daily routines and environments

  • Need for ongoing or new supports

They may use tools such as the WHODAS 2.0, Vineland-3 or the Life Skills Profile (LSP-16) and include your own words and experiences to make the report more personal and meaningful.

What Makes a Good FCA Report?

A strong FCA should:

  1. Be person-centred and recovery-focused- showing your goals, not just limitations.

  2. Reflect your lived experience- including direct quotes or examples from your daily life.

  3. Describe the impact of your condition- rather than focusing on the diagnosis alone.

  4. Explain risks without supports- like what might happen if you don’t get the help you need.

  5. Include your strengths- to show how supports help you build independence and confidence.

What Happens After an FCA?

Your FCA report is submitted to the NDIS to help determine your eligibility or funding level.
It also helps shape your NDIS plan by identifying what supports are reasonable and necessary to help you meet your goals, like therapy, skill-building, or community participation.

Tips for Participants Before an FCA

Here’s how you can prepare:

  • Gather reports, documents, and letters that show your Health Summary.

  • Write down examples of where you struggle day-to-day.

  • Bring notes from carers or support workers.

  • Think about your recovery goals, what does “living well” look like for you?

  • Be honest about your hard days; this isn’t about ability, it’s about support needs.

In Summary

A Functional Capacity Assessment is your voice in the NDIS process.
It tells your story, how your condition affects your daily life and what supports will help you live with choice and control.
By working with your clinician and sharing your lived experience, you can ensure your FCA truly reflects who you are and what you need to support your health and wellbeing.

Take the Next Step Toward the Right Supports

If you or someone you support lives with a psychosocial disability, a FCA can be the key to unlocking fair and tailored NDIS funding.

At Wellbeing Practice, we specialise in Functional Capacity Assessments for mental health and psychosocial disability. Our experienced clinicians take a trauma-informed and recovery-oriented approach to make sure your story is heard and your goals are at the centre of every recommendation.

Get in touch today to book your assessment or learn more about how we can help you navigate the NDIS with confidence.


✉ Email a referral at info@thewellbeingpractice.org

Catherine Mendoza