A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) provides a clear understanding of a person’s abilities, challenges, and support needs across different areas of daily life. The outcome of an FCA is a detailed report, most often used to inform NDIS planning, support funding decisions, or guide access to further services and therapies.

Capacity = Ability + Support

Every person has unique strengths and areas where additional support may be needed. A functional capacity assessment looks at how someone manages tasks, participates in activities, and interacts with their environment. The focus is on what they can do independently, what they can do with support, and where further assistance is required.

The assessment explores six key areas of functioning:

• Social Interaction – ability to form and maintain relationships, cope with emotions in social situations, behave in ways acceptable to others, interact effectively, and engage in the community.

• Communication – how well the participant understands and is understood by others, including speaking, listening, writing, reading, and expressing needs.

• Learning – capacity to remember, understand, and apply new information, as well as learn and practise new skills.

• Mobility – ability to move around safely, walk with or without aids, manage transfers, and history of falls.

• Self Care – personal care and activities of daily living such as cooking, shopping, managing hygiene, and using transport.

• Self Management – ability to take responsibility for planning, decision-making, organising daily life, and managing personal goals.