Functional Capacity Assessments

A functional capacity assessment can vary in its complexity and scope but generally the assessment analyses a client’s functional performance in the areas of personal self-care and general activities in and around the home and in the community. For NDIS participants, these assessments are essential in determining the level and type of supports required within an NDIS plan.

Detailed assessments and reports can be done for any form of incapacity in relation to a wide range of issues or circumstances. These include:

• Those with permanent physical and/or intellectual disabilities
• Motor accident victims
• Those who have experienced professional negligence
• Public liability claims
• Work-related injury or illness claims
• Immigration requirements

What’s involved in the assessment?

Our Occupational Therapist will meet you at your home at an agreed time to complete an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment, reviewing your usual living activities. Where able, you will be asked to demonstrate how you undertake a range of tasks commonly performed in and around the home.

Where a standardised assessment is required, such as the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), a majority of our OTs are FIM credentialled and are highly experienced in its use.

The FIM instrument is a basic indicator of the severity of one’s disability. It comprises 18 items, each of which is assessed against a seven-point ordinal scale, where the higher the score for an item, the more independently the client is able to perform the tasks assessed by that item. Total scores range from 18 to 126.

The items are divided into two major groups, the Motor items, of which there are 13, and the Cognitive Items, of which there are 5. The rating scale designates major graduations in behaviour from dependence to independence. The scale provides for the classification of individuals by their ability to carry out an activity independently, versus their need for assistance from another person or a device. If help is needed the scale assesses the degree of that need.

The Assessment

In summary, the assessment identifies your:

• Level of independence
• Pre-injury and post-injury status (if applicable)
• Ability to perform tasks
• Capacity to fulfill pre-injury roles (if applicable)
• Any requirements for care
• Any requirements for assistive technology/aids, equipment or home modifications

The status of the client is assessed through:

• Observation of performance of selected activities
• Assessment of the environment (eg. home, work, school)
• Interview with the client (and carer/s where possible)
• Available medical opinion, including medical records

The Report

The Occupational Therapy Assessment report addresses the questions posed in the referral instructions and analysis of function in areas such as:

• Personal care
• Domestic duties
• Need for referral relating to vocational ability, education and/or training needs
• Capacity to care for others (eg. dependents, children)
• Community access ( eg. driving, transport, shopping, attending medical appointments and participating in community activites)
• Living skills (eg. ability to manage own affairs)
• Ability to engage in social activities

The report can be used to support NDIS access requests, plan reassessments, or reviews of support funding. Consideration is also given to past and/or future requirements.

From Functional Capacity Report to Functional Improvement

A functional capacity assessment provides important evidence for funding, support planning and NDIS reviews. However, it can also become the foundation for ongoing therapy that directly targets the areas identified in the report.

If the assessment shows difficulty with self-care, community access, household tasks or daily routines, our Occupational Therapists can continue working with the client to improve capacity where possible and support long-term participation.

This creates a stronger link between assessment, recommendations and real-world progress.

Supporting NDIS Goals Beyond the Review

NDIS plans often include goals around independence, participation, skill development and safety. After completing a functional capacity assessment, we can provide ongoing OT support that aligns therapy with those goals.

This may include:

• Building daily living skills
• Improving independence with personal care or domestic tasks
• Supporting community access and social participation
• Reviewing assistive technology or home modification needs
• Providing progress updates for future plan reviews

This positions the assessment as the start of a longer support pathway, not the end of the service.

Our commitment to you

Useful Links

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• NDIS Quality & Safeguard Commission
• How to choose the right therapist