Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs)

At Hamco Allied Health, Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) are a core area of practice and are used to support NDIS planning, plan reviews, and funding requests. FCAs provide a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of how an individual's disability or health condition impacts their everyday functioning across home, school, work, and community environments.
Our FCAs focus on real-world participation, ensuring that a participant's needs are clearly articulated and accurately represented to support informed decision-making.

Why Functional Capacity Assessments are important

Functional Capacity Assessments play a critical role in supporting appropriate NDIS funding by:
Providing objective evidence of how disability impacts daily functioning
Clearly outlining support needs across personal, domestic, social, educational, and community participation
Linking functional challenges to recommended supports and services
Assisting the NDIA to make informed, fair, and evidence-based funding decisions
A well-completed FCA helps ensure that supports are aligned with real-world functional needs, rather than relying on diagnosis alone.

When a Functional Capacity Assessment may be recommended

A Functional Capacity Assessment may be helpful when:
A participant is preparing for an NDIS plan review or reassessment
Current funding does not adequately meet functional support needs
There has been a change in functioning, circumstances, or support requirements
Evidence is required to support requests for therapy supports, assistive technology, or capacity building funding

Our approach to Functional Capacity Assessments

Hamco Allied Health completes FCAs using a thorough, client-centred process that is aligned with NDIS expectations and reporting requirements.
1.
Initial contact and consultation
Upon receipt of a referral, Hamco Allied Health will make contact to arrange an initial consultation. This may occur via phone or in person, depending on individual needs and circumstances. Where clinically appropriate, observation of the participant within their natural environment (such as home, school, or community) may also be undertaken.
2.
Information gathering and assessment
Following the initial consultation, relevant questionnaires and information-gathering tools are provided to the participant, family, and/or key supports. These help to capture functional strengths, challenges, and support needs across everyday contexts. Assessment may include clinical observation, standardised and non-standardised tools, and collaboration with families, educators, and other supports.
3.
Analysis and reporting
Once all required information has been received, Hamco Allied Health completes a comprehensive Functional Capacity Assessment report. Reports are written using NDIS-aligned language and focus on functional impact, support needs, strengths, and evidence-based recommendations to support participation and wellbeing. Final reports are typically provided within two working days of receiving all required information.

Our focus

Our FCA reports aim to provide clear, practical, and defensible evidence that supports participants, families, and planners to understand support needs and make informed funding decisions.