NDIS Assessments: A Complete Guide
A calm, complete guide to the assessments across your NDIS journey — access evidence, functional capacity assessments and the emerging needs assessment.
Assessments can feel like the most daunting part of the NDIS. This guide walks you calmly through the different assessments you may meet across your journey — from the evidence you gather to access the Scheme, to the functional capacity assessments that shape your plan, to the independent needs assessment being introduced under the reforms. Here is who does each one, and how it feeds your plan.
The assessments across your NDIS journey
Access: the evidence that gets you in
Planning and functional capacity assessments
The emerging independent needs assessment
Reassessments and plan variations
How to get ready — and get support
Frequently asked questions
How many assessments will I need for the NDIS?
There is no fixed number. To access the Scheme you provide evidence from your treating professionals; during planning you may have one or more functional capacity assessments; and before a plan ends there is usually a reassessment. The exact mix depends on your disability and situation, so ask your…
Who carries out NDIS assessments?
Different people at different stages. Access evidence comes from your GP, specialists and allied health team. Functional capacity assessments are usually done by allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists or psychologists. The emerging…
Is the new independent needs assessment being used now?
It is an emerging change under the NDIS reforms rather than something fully rolled out for everyone. The direction of travel is towards a more standardised, independent assessment, but the details continue to be settled and communicated by the NDIA. Check current NDIS guidance and your plan for what…
What is the difference between a reassessment and a review?
They refer to the same idea, but the language changed. Under the current PACE system, "reassessment" replaced the older term "review" for the periodic look at your plan. The 2024 Act also introduced "plan variations" for smaller, more straightforward changes that do not need a full reassessment.
Do I need to pay for assessments?
Where assessments are needed for your NDIS plan, they can sometimes be funded within your plan, and some evidence comes from health services you already use. How costs are handled varies, so talk to your LAC, support coordinator or treating team before booking anything and check what your plan…
How can I prepare so an assessment goes well?
Map out a typical day and your hardest days, list the help you rely on, and gather current evidence from your treating team. Bringing a support person helps too. Our guide How to Prepare for an NDIS Assessment walks through each step in detail.