A Functional Capacity Assessment at Seeds costs $969.95 for most people. That is five hours of occupational therapy at the 2026-27 NDIS rate of $193.99 an hour, and it covers the whole assessment: reading your intake form and documents, the interview, the measures we use, the clinical thinking afterwards and the written report. Where an assessment needs a different scope, we quote it at $193.99 an hour and agree it with you before anything starts.
There is no single Australian price. Providers quote differently, and a quote that only names an hourly rate or an appointment does not tell you what you are buying. This page explains what the Seeds fee includes, what to look for in any quote, and how the process runs.
What the $969.95 includes
Review of your intake form and the documents you send. An OT interview of about an hour, by video. The assessment measures suited to your situation, such as WHODAS 2.0 or the COPM. Interpretation of everything gathered, and a written report with findings and recommendations, delivered within two weeks of the interview. Nisha Bal writes and takes responsibility for every report.
It does not include an in-person home assessment, detailed equipment prescription, home modification design, a behaviour support plan or an expert witness service. If your question needs one of those, we say so before you book.
What other providers charge
For comparison, two telehealth FCA providers publish a fixed price of $2,910 for a comprehensive assessment: FCA Reports Australia and Functional Capacity Assessments Pty Ltd, the second describing its fee as about fifteen hours of assessment, analysis and reporting. FCA Reports Australia's own guide to FCA costs puts the Australian range at roughly $1,800 to $3,600. Many providers do not publish a price at all. Figures read from those pages on 26 September 2026.
A lower price does not prove poor quality and a higher one does not prove better evidence. What matters is whether the assessment answers the question you need answered, and Seeds tells you before you book if yours needs more than the standard scope.
How to compare quotes
Ask whether the quote includes document review, the appointment, assessment measures, clinical interpretation and report writing. An appointment-only price cannot be compared with a complete assessment-and-report fee.
Ask what happens if the scope changes. Additional work should be discussed and agreed before it is done, not added afterwards.
Ask about other charges: travel, extra appointments, specialist components and any follow-up. Ask how factual corrections are handled. At Seeds, a factual error raised within two days of receiving the report is corrected at no charge.
Ask for the cancellation and payment terms before you book. A headline fee is incomplete when the conditions only appear later.
How a Seeds assessment runs
- Enquire and check the fit. Tell us why you need a report and whether you have a deadline. We reply within two days and confirm whether our service is suitable before you commit.
- Share your intake and documents. Complete the fillable intake form at your own pace. NDIS plans, previous reports, letters and school information help us prepare. A support person is welcome to help.
- We choose the measures. Nisha selects relevant tools, such as WHODAS 2.0 or the COPM. Measures of work and social adjustment, mood, stress or carer load are used where appropriate.
- Talk through everyday life. The interview is usually around an hour, through a secure video appointment. We discuss what works, what is difficult, the help involved and what happens when support is unavailable.
- Receive a reasoned report. Nisha brings the evidence together, writes the report and signs it off. Your report is delivered within two weeks of the interview. From first enquiry to finished report is usually four to six weeks.
Paying for it
Seeds issues an invoice before the interview. Payment can be made after the interview, and the final report is released once payment is received. We work with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants and with people paying privately; we do not work with NDIA-managed participants through this service. NDIS funding may pay for an FCA when it is an eligible support under your plan. Check that before booking, because an invoice is not proof that the NDIA will reimburse it.
Do you need one at all?
Before comparing providers, establish the evidence gap. An existing report or current treating information may already answer the question. You do not have to buy an FCA to apply for the NDIS. When a new assessment is the right step, a written scope and a total cost make the comparison meaningful.