1300 976 400
FUNCTIONALCAPACITY ASSESSMENTS 1300 976 400
Applying for the NDIS?

NDIS Access Request Assessment

What you receive
  • A written OT report documenting functional capacity
  • The NDIA's Supporting Evidence Form, completed
$970 inc GST · Payment plans available
Australia-wide telehealth OT-led Adults & adolescents
Pay securely online — $970 Book a free 15-minute call Refer a participant

Not sure you need an assessment? Check first with our free 2-minute tool — it's free and it may tell you that you don't.

Before you pay us anything, check whether you need us

The NDIA does not require a paid assessment. Many people are approved using reports they already have — from a GP, a specialist, or treating health professionals who already know them well.

An OT assessment is useful when there isn't current evidence describing how a disability affects everyday activities, or when the NDIA has asked for more information about functional impact.

A useful question to ask whoever is preparing your evidence:
“Does this describe what support I need, or only that I'm eligible?”
Check whether you need an assessment — free

Takes about 2 minutes. No payment, no account, no obligation.

The NDIA decides on functional impact

Not diagnosis alone. Two people with the same condition can have completely different support needs — evidence that shows daily-life impact is what the NDIA can assess.

Diagnosis only
“Jane has multiple sclerosis.”
Confirms the condition exists. Says nothing about daily life.
Functional impact
“Jane can't shower or dress without hands-on help, and needs supervision preparing meals due to fatigue and falls risk.”
Shows what support is needed, when, and why.

Start for yourself

Pay securely online, then complete your intake. Your occupational therapist is allocated once your intake is received. No call needed to get started.

Pay securely online — $970

Pay in full or choose a payment plan at checkout.

Refer a participant

Support Coordinators, health professionals and family members can submit a secure referral. We confirm scope and payment arrangements before any work begins.

Submit a referral

Takes about 5 minutes. We'll be in touch to confirm next steps.

1Pay online or refer
2Complete intake
3OT allocated

What's included

An OT-led telehealth service preparing functional information to support an NDIS access request.

Initial consultation with your allocated occupational therapist
Occupational therapy assessment delivered via secure telehealth
Standardised assessment tools selected on clinical suitability
Relevant collaboration with treating health professionals where required
A written OT report documenting functional capacity
The NDIA's Supporting Evidence Form, completed by your occupational therapist

Which assessment do you need?

Both can be used to support an NDIS access request. The difference is how much of your functional picture is documented — and what that evidence can be used for afterwards.

For the access decision

NDIS Access Request Assessment

$970 inc GST
For adults and adolescents · Payment plans available at checkout
  • OT-led telehealth assessment of daily function
  • Standardised tools selected on clinical suitability
  • A written OT report documenting functional capacity
  • The NDIA's Supporting Evidence Form, completed
Pay securely online — $970

Or submit a referral.

For access and your first plan

Functional Capacity Assessment

$2,909.85 inc GST
For adults and adolescents · Approximately 15 hours of assessment, analysis and reporting
Functional capacity assessments (FCAs) evaluate the abilities and limitations of individuals with disabilities — what a person can and can't do across everyday activities, and the support they need.
  • Comprehensive assessment across all functional domains, not only those needed for the access decision
  • Clinician-led telehealth assessment using standardised tools such as WHODAS 2.0, IADL and CANS
  • Initial consultation and collaboration with treating health professionals
  • Structured evidence aligned to NDIA decision making
  • The same report can support an access request and remains available as evidence when a first plan is built
  • Also used for plan reviews, increased support hours, and SIL, SDA, ILO and STA pathways
  • In most cases, reports issued within 7 days once interviews and documentation are complete
Submit a referral to begin intake

Already an NDIS participant? No upfront payment required for NDIS funded assessments. Self-funding? Pay online instead.

Access and your first plan are two different decisions

An access request needs evidence that functional capacity is substantially reduced. A first plan is built on a broader picture — what support is needed, how often, and across which areas of daily life. The NDIA works from the evidence available at the time each decision is made.

Evidence written to establish eligibility does not always describe support needs in detail. Where that broader picture isn't already documented, gathering it afterwards means arranging a further assessment and requesting a plan reassessment. That takes time, and it is a second piece of work.

For many people this doesn't arise. It matters more where there are multiple impairments, psychosocial disability, or where supported accommodation may be relevant.

Whether it makes sense to do that work upfront depends on your circumstances, the complexity of the support needs involved, and your budget. It is optional, and it is a larger cost before any eligibility decision has been made. The NDIA independently determines eligibility, and no assessment guarantees NDIS access, acceptance of evidence, or any particular plan or funding outcome.

If you'd like to talk through which is appropriate — or whether you need either — book a free 15-minute call or phone 1300 976 400.

Not sure if this is right for you?

Whether to apply for the NDIS is entirely your decision. If your existing reports already describe how your disability affects daily activities, we'll tell you — and you won't need to book anything with us.

Book a free 15-minute call

Or phone 1300 976 400 · Use the free decision tool

See what's included

A short walkthrough of exactly what the $970 Access Request Assessment covers, how the telehealth appointment works, and when a comprehensive assessment may be more appropriate.

Video explaining what is included in the $970 NDIS Access Request Assessment
$970 NDIS Access Request Assessment — What's Included?3 min 23 sec

General information only. The NDIA independently determines eligibility for the NDIS.

Quick answers

The essentials before you start or refer.

Do I need this assessment to apply for the NDIS?
No. You can make an NDIS access request directly without purchasing this service, and the NDIA does not require a paid assessment. Many people are approved using evidence they already have from treating health professionals. This optional paid service provides an OT-led functional assessment and supporting functional information where that evidence isn't already available. Our free decision tool will help you work out which applies to you.
I already have reports from my GP and specialist — is that enough?
It may well be. Reports that describe how your disability affects everyday activities — self-care, mobility, communication, social interaction, learning and daily tasks — can serve the same purpose. Reports that confirm a diagnosis without describing daily function are where a gap often sits. If you're unsure, use the free decision tool or book a free 15-minute call and we'll say so honestly before you pay for anything.
How can an occupational therapist assess me by telehealth?
A functional assessment is largely structured interview and observation. Your OT asks detailed questions about how you manage everyday tasks, and observes how you communicate, follow instructions and describe your day. Over video they can also see you move, demonstrate tasks, and show them your home setup where that's relevant. Telehealth is a recognised delivery method in allied health. It doesn't suit every presentation — if your OT considers telehealth isn't clinically appropriate for you, we'll tell you before assessment work begins.
What exactly do I receive?
A written occupational therapy report documenting functional capacity, and the NDIA's Supporting Evidence Form completed by your occupational therapist. Both are provided to you to submit with your access request.
What happens after payment or referral?
You'll complete a secure intake form. Once received, an occupational therapist is allocated and arranges your initial consultation via telehealth.
Should I get the $970 assessment or the full Functional Capacity Assessment?
The $970 Access Request Assessment documents functional capacity to support an access request. The $2,909.85 Functional Capacity Assessment is a comprehensive assessment across all functional domains — the same report can support an access request and remains available as evidence when a first plan is built. Which is appropriate depends on the complexity of the support needs involved and your budget. We're happy to talk it through on a free 15-minute call before you pay for anything.
I'm already an NDIS participant — can this be funded through my plan?
In many cases, yes. Functional Capacity Assessments are commonly funded from an existing NDIS plan, and no upfront payment is required for NDIS funded assessments. Submit a referral and we'll confirm funding arrangements before any work begins. The Access Request Assessment is intended for people who are not yet participants.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Payment plan options are available at checkout, or you can pay the full amount of $970 including GST upfront. Payment plans are provided by third-party payment providers and are subject to their approval and terms.
What if my occupational therapist can't complete the assessment?
Occasionally an occupational therapist may determine that the assessment can't be appropriately completed by telehealth, or that it falls outside the scope of this service. If that happens we contact you before any assessment work begins to discuss your options, including a refund, in accordance with our service terms. Whether to apply for the NDIS is your decision — this review is about whether we can deliver the service properly, not about your eligibility.

Important information

You can make an NDIS access request directly without purchasing this service. The NDIA does not require a paid assessment, and evidence from treating health professionals may already be sufficient. This optional paid service provides an OT-led functional assessment and supporting functional information.

Service terms apply. Whether to make an NDIS access request is the participant's decision. The NDIA independently determines eligibility for the NDIS. Purchasing this service does not guarantee NDIS access, acceptance of evidence or funding.

The price of $970 includes GST. The Functional Capacity Assessment is priced at $2,909.85 including GST. Payment plan options are offered at checkout, are provided by third-party payment providers, and are subject to those providers' approval and terms.

Assessment tools are selected by the treating occupational therapist on clinical suitability and may vary between participants. Reporting timeframes are indicative and depend on the completion of interviews and receipt of supporting documentation.

© Functional Capacity Assessments Pty Ltd · 1300 976 400 · Telehealth across Australia
General information only — not a guarantee of NDIS funding
Pay $970 Do I need this?