Insights
Functional Capacity Assessment for Stroke
Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in Australia. Each year approximately 56,000 Australians have a stroke and more than 430,000 Australians live with the long-term effects of stroke. For people who are under 65 at the time of their stroke, the NDIS is the primary pathway to accessing disability support funding. The functional consequences of stroke are wide-ranging, highly individual and extend far beyond the physical impairments that are most visible to others. A Functional Capacity Assessment is the cornerstone of NDIS access and planning for stroke survivors.
Functional Capacity Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. Australia has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with more than 33,000 Australians living with the condition. MS typically affects people in their most productive years, with diagnosis most common between the ages of 20 and 40. The functional impact of MS is highly variable, both between individuals and within the same individual over time, producing specific challenges for NDIS planning that require comprehensive, condition-specific assessment.
Functional Capacity Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects an estimated one in 40 Australians. It is one of the most common presentations in the NDIS and one of the most complex to assess for funding purposes. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classifies ASD into three severity levels, each describing a different level of support required. Understanding what these levels mean clinically, how they interact with NDIS eligibility and what a Functional Capacity Assessment provides at each level is essential knowledge for anyone navigating the NDIS with an ASD diagnosis.
NDIS Changes 2026: What Participants and Families Need to Know
The NDIS has undergone its most significant period of legislative and policy change since the scheme began. Between October 2024 and July 2026, three separate pieces of legislation have been enacted or introduced to Parliament, the NDIS Pricing Schedule for 2026–27 was released on 22 June 2026 and a series of structural changes are scheduled through to April 2027. This article summarises what has changed, when each change takes effect and what it means for people with disability who are navigating the NDIS.
How the ART Reviews NDIA Decisions — and Where an Independent OT Report Fits In
When an NDIS participant believes the NDIA has made the wrong decision about their plan, their access, or their supports, they have the right to challenge that decision. The Administrative Review Tribunal — the ART — is the body that hears these challenges and has the power to overturn or vary NDIA decisions.
Transitioning from DCP to NDIS — How a Functional Capacity Assessment Helps
Young people leaving the care of the Department of Child Protection face one of the most significant transitions of their lives — and they often face it with fewer resources and less support than their peers. For young people with disability or psychosocial disability, this transition is particularly complex. A Functional Capacity Assessment completed at the right time can be one of the most important steps in this process.
Functional Capacity Assessment for Mental Health and the NDIS — What Actually Gets Assessed
Mental health conditions can cause profound, lasting limitations on a person’s ability to manage daily life. Yet people with mental health conditions often find it harder to access the NDIS funding they need — not because the NDIS does not cover mental health, but because the functional impact of their condition is not always clearly captured in clinical documentation.
How Occupational Therapists and Behaviour Support Practitioners Work Together — and Why It Matters for Your Client’s NDIS Plan
In the NDIS support ecosystem, Occupational Therapists and Behaviour Support Practitioners often work with the same participants — but they do not always work together as effectively as they could.
What to Tell Your Client Before Their Functional Capacity Assessment
Knowing what to expect before a Functional Capacity Assessment can make a real difference — both for the quality of the assessment itself and for the participant’s experience of the process. If you are a support coordinator, family member, or carer helping someone prepare, this article covers what to share with them.
SIL, SDA or ILO – Which NDIS Home and Living Pathway Does Your Client Need?
SIL, SDA, and ILO are three different NDIS Home and Living pathways, and knowing which one — or which combination — is right for your client is not always straightforward. The differences between them matter not just for the application process, but for the type of Functional Capacity Assessment needed to support the application.
How to Refer a Client for an NDIS FCA
If you or someone you support has been told they need a Functional Capacity Assessment, it is completely normal to feel unsure about what that actually means. This article explains what an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment is
What Lawyers Need to Know Before Instructing an Independent OT for an ART Matter
If you are a solicitor or legal representative acting for an NDIS participant in an Administrative Review Tribunal matter or NDIA appeal, an independent Occupational Therapy Functional Capacity Assessment can be a powerful piece of evidence.
Why Psychosocial Disability Is So Often Underfunded in NDIS Plans — and What a Good FCA Does About It
Participants with psychosocial disability are more likely than almost any other cohort to receive an NDIS plan that does not reflect their actual support needs — and more likely to face repeated plan reviews, appeals, and tribunal proceedings as a result.
Functional Capacity Assessment for Justice-Involved Individuals — What You Need to Know
Functional Capacity Assessment for people involved with the justice system is one of the most specialised areas of NDIS OT practice — and one of the most important. People in these circumstances frequently have significant and complex support needs, but face particular barriers to having those needs identified, assessed, and met.
Functional Capacity Assessment for Psychosocial Disability — What Makes It Different
Psychosocial disability is one of the most frequently misunderstood areas in the NDIS. The supports that people with psychosocial disability need are real, significant, and often complex — but they can be harder to demonstrate than the needs arising from a physical or intellectual disability.
How an Independent Functional Capacity Assessment Supports an NDIA Appeal at the Administrative Review Tribunal
When an NDIS participant disagrees with an NDIA decision, they have the right to seek a review. If the internal review process does not resolve the matter, the participant can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal — the ART — for an independent review
What is an NDIS Home and Living Assessment — and Does Your Client Need One?
The NDIS Home and Living Assessment is one of the most significant — and most frequently misunderstood — assessments in the NDIS system.
What is an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment?
If you or someone you support has been told they need a Functional Capacity Assessment, it is completely normal to feel unsure about what that actually means. This article explains what an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment is