From mid-2026, the NDIS is rolling out a new way of assessing support needs. The new I-CAN framework shifts the focus from diagnostic labels to how disability affects your child's everyday life, across areas like self-care, communication, learning, social connection, and mental health.
These changes affect how funding decisions are made and what evidence is used in the planning process. For many families, this raises questions: What does my child need to show? Will their plan still reflect their actual support needs? How do I make sure nothing gets missed?
A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) helps answer those questions.
These changes affect how funding decisions are made and what evidence is used in the planning process. For many families, this raises questions: What does my child need to show? Will their plan still reflect their actual support needs? How do I make sure nothing gets missed?
A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) helps answer those questions.
What is a Functional Capacity Assessment?
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A Functional Capacity Assessment is a comprehensive psychological assessment that looks at how your child functions across the key areas of daily life. Rather than focusing only on diagnosis, it captures the real-world impact of your child's disability, including what they can do well, where they need support, and how often and how intensively that support is needed. At Changing Minds, our FCAs are conducted by a Clinical Psychologist and are specifically designed to align with the NDIS I-CAN framework and its 12 functional domains. This means the evidence in your child's report speaks directly to the areas the NDIS uses to make planning and funding decisions. |
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Many parents ask whether a psychologist can complete an FCA. The short answer is yes.
You can read our detailed guide here.
You can read our detailed guide here.
Why this matters now?
The NDIS is moving towards a model where a standardised Support Needs Assessment (conducted by NDIA-appointed assessors) becomes the primary tool for determining plan budgets. For participants aged 16 and over, this begins from July 2026. Changes for younger children are expected to follow in stages.
While the new Support Needs Assessment will carry significant weight in planning decisions, clinical reports from psychologists continue to play an important complementary role, particularly for children and young people with complex or overlapping presentations. A well-structured FCA provides the depth and clinical context that a standardised assessment alone may not capture, helping to ensure your child's plan accurately reflects their needs.
This is especially important if your child has:
While the new Support Needs Assessment will carry significant weight in planning decisions, clinical reports from psychologists continue to play an important complementary role, particularly for children and young people with complex or overlapping presentations. A well-structured FCA provides the depth and clinical context that a standardised assessment alone may not capture, helping to ensure your child's plan accurately reflects their needs.
This is especially important if your child has:
- More than one diagnosis or overlapping conditions (for example, ADHD and autism, or anxiety and a learning disorder)
- Support needs that fluctuate or are not always visible
- Difficulties that are hard to capture in a single assessment session
- A previous plan that did not fully reflect their level of need
How our FCA works
Our assessment process is thorough and tailored to your child. It typically involves:
Clinical interview. We start by meeting with you (and your child, where appropriate) to understand their history, daily routines, current challenges, and what support they already receive. This conversation helps us build a full picture before any formal testing begins.
Standardised assessment. Your child completes a range of carefully selected tests and tasks, chosen based on their age, presentation, and referral question. We use direct observation and hands-on tasks wherever possible, not just questionnaires and rating scales. Testing is spread across sessions to keep things comfortable and to get the most accurate picture of your child's abilities.
Collateral information. We gather input from the people who know your child best. This may include parent and teacher questionnaires, school reports, and any previous assessment reports. This helps us understand how your child functions across different settings.
Detailed report. You receive a comprehensive written report that documents your child's functional capacity across the 12 I-CAN domains, including their strengths, areas of difficulty, and the frequency and intensity of support they need. The report is written in clear, accessible language and is designed to be used directly in NDIS planning conversations.
Who is this for?
Our FCA service is available for children, adolescents, and young adults. It is suitable for:
We work with a range of presentations including autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, learning disorders, anxiety and mood difficulties, and other neurodevelopmental and psychosocial conditions.
- New NDIS access requests where functional evidence is needed
- Existing participants preparing for a plan review or reassessment
- Families who feel their child's current plan does not reflect their true level of need
- Young people approaching the transition to adult NDIS planning under the new framework
We work with a range of presentations including autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, learning disorders, anxiety and mood difficulties, and other neurodevelopmental and psychosocial conditions.
What to expect
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The assessment is conducted at our Mount Annan clinic by Gina Howland, Clinical Psychologist. Here is what the process looks like:
Booking. Contact our office to discuss your child's needs. We will let you know what to bring and how to prepare. Sessions. The assessment is typically completed across two to three appointments, depending on your child's age and complexity. We allow enough time to get a thorough and accurate picture without rushing. Report. Your report is usually completed within 3 weeks of the final session. We are happy to discuss the findings with you and can provide a summary letter for your NDIS planner or support coordinator if needed. |
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Ready to book?
If you would like to find out more or book a Functional Capacity Assessment for your child, contact us on 0427 518 774 or through our contact page.
If you would like to find out more or book a Functional Capacity Assessment for your child, contact us on 0427 518 774 or through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an FCA and the new NDIS Support Needs Assessment?
They serve different purposes. The NDIS Support Needs Assessment (using the I-CAN tool) is a standardised assessment conducted by an NDIA-appointed assessor. It is used to generate a support needs score that feeds into automated budget calculations. A Functional Capacity Assessment is a detailed clinical assessment conducted by a psychologist. It provides the depth, clinical reasoning, and individualised evidence that sits alongside the standardised assessment, particularly for children and young people with complex needs.
Think of it this way: the Support Needs Assessment captures what level of support your child needs; the FCA explains why they need it and what is driving those difficulties.
Can I use my NDIS funding to pay for an FCA?
If you are self-managed or plan-managed, yes. You can use your Capacity Building or Assessment and Reporting funding to pay for a Functional Capacity Assessment with us. As Changing Minds is not a registered NDIS provider, participants who are NDIA-managed are unfortunately not able to use their NDIS funding for this service. If you are unsure about your plan management type, your support coordinator or plan manager can help clarify this for you.
What if my child already has a diagnosis?
An FCA is not about re-diagnosing your child. It is about documenting how their disability affects their everyday functioning right now. Even if your child was diagnosed years ago, their support needs may have changed, or their current plan may not fully reflect the level of support they actually require. An FCA provides up-to-date, detailed evidence of functional impact, which is exactly what the NDIS needs to see at plan review.
My child is under 16. Do the NDIS changes affect them?
The I-CAN Support Needs Assessment is initially being rolled out for participants aged 16 and over from mid-2026. Changes for younger children are expected to follow in stages, with the Thriving Kids program (for ages 0 to 8) anticipated from early 2028. In the meantime, children under 16 still benefit from having strong functional evidence in their NDIS plans. An FCA structured around the I-CAN domains positions your child well, regardless of when the new framework applies to their age group.
How is this different from the assessments my child has already had?
Many families come to us with existing diagnostic reports, for example an autism or ADHD assessment. These reports are valuable, but they are often focused on establishing a diagnosis rather than documenting day-to-day functional impact across all areas of life. An FCA is specifically designed to capture how your child manages self-care, communication, learning, social relationships, emotional regulation, and other areas that matter for NDIS planning. It fills the gap between "what is the diagnosis" and "what support does my child actually need."
Will you talk to my child's school or other professionals?
Yes, where appropriate. With your consent, we can gather information from your child's school, therapists, or other professionals involved in their care. This collateral information strengthens the assessment by showing how your child functions across different environments, not just in the clinic room.
How long does the process take from start to finish?
The assessment itself is usually completed across two to three appointments, spaced to suit your child. From your first appointment to receiving the final report, the process typically takes 5 weeks. If you have an upcoming plan review or access request with a deadline, let us know when you book and we will do our best to accommodate your timeframe.