Functional health refers to a person’s ability to perform everyday activities and participate in life roles – essentially their “functioning” rather than just their medical diagnoses. This concept aligns with the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), which treats functioning and disability as key health measures.

In practice, functional health tests assess what a person can do in daily life (mobility, self-care, communication, etc.), which is crucial for planning care and support. For example, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) stresses that functional assessments help identify “what supports a person may need to live the life they want”, ensuring the impact of each disability is fully understood.

In other words, these tests go beyond diagnoses to measure real-world abilities, guiding interventions and monitoring health outcomes over time.

Functional health tests in public health screenings

Australia’s health system embeds functional evaluation into some targeted screening programs, especially for at-risk groups. For instance, Medicare funds extended GP “health assessment” appointments (45–60 minutes) for older adults and other cohorts.

These comprehensive checks must include examination of the patient’s medical condition and physical function. The MBS notes explicitly that health assessment items are used to assess “a patient’s health and physical, psychological and social function”.

In practice, a GP doing an annual or 75+ health check will review mobility, falls risk, self-care ability and other functional issues, alongside standard health screening.

A high-profile example is the annual health assessment for intellectual disability. All Australians with intellectual disabilities are entitled to a yearly comprehensive health check, supported by Medicare. This assessment uses tools like the Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) to systematically record health and functional needs

Clinics are encouraged to book longer appointments (often with a nurse assisting) so that the person’s ability in areas like communication, self-care and mobility can be fully explored. Campaigns like “It’s Doctor Time!” (by Inclusion Australia) promote these checks, emphasising that families and doctors should prepare for the appointment.

Such screenings aim to pick up any unmet health or functional issues early. In short, while there is no single national “functional health test” for everyone, the public health system incorporates functional assessment into targeted checks (e.g. in aged care or disability programs) to ensure people’s daily abilities are reviewed and supported.

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Functional assessments in insurance and disability schemes

Functional health tests are routinely used in insurance and disability settings to determine eligibility and entitlements. For example, the Disability Support Pension (DSP) system uses legislated impairment tables to rate a person’s loss of functional capacity for work.

These tables cover various body systems and skills (physical exertion, upper/lower limb use, cognitive function, mental health, etc.), assigning an impairment rating based on how much an impairment restricts daily activities. In effect, Centrelink assesses whether a person’s functional limitations meet the Pension criteria.

In workplace and injury contexts, Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs) are common. These are comprehensive, objective assessments (usually by an occupational or physical therapist) of a person’s physical (and sometimes cognitive) capabilities for work or daily tasks. As the Department of Veterans’ Affairs notes, an FCE “determines a person’s functional limitations based on a physical examination and provides objective evaluation of performance”.

The test may include lifting objects, walking, bending, and other activities to gauge strength, stamina, and flexibility. After testing, the assessor produces a report detailing the individual’s capacities and limitations and how these translate into work or activity restrictions. Such reports are used by employers, insurers or compensation boards to guide return-to-work plans or benefit decisions.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) places functional assessment at its core. Unlike traditional systems that only require medical diagnosis, the NDIS focuses on functional impact. In fact, NDIA media emphasises that functional assessments have always been part of the NDIS for access and planning.

Applicants must show how their disability affects daily life – e.g. mobility, communication, learning, self-care – and evidence is often gathered through tests of functional ability. If initial evidence is insufficient, the NDIA may even conduct a standardised functional interview (using tools like the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) or the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-CAT)) to clarify how the disability impacts the person.

In practice, NDIS planners and Local Area Coordinators arrange for participants (or applicants) to undergo appropriate functional assessments by qualified health professionals. The results directly inform the support and funding included in an individual’s plan.

In summary, functional health tests are extensively used by Australian welfare and insurance programs. They ensure that support levels match actual ability: for DSP and workers’ comp, by quantifying work capacity; and for NDIS, by translating disability into daily support needs.

Common functional health tests and tools

A variety of standardised tests and questionnaires are used to measure functional abilities. Key examples include:

• Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE): A multi-part assessment (often 2–4 hours) by an occupational or physio therapist. It involves physical tasks (lifting, walking, balancing) relevant to work or daily life. Clinicians objectively record performance to determine safe activity leves. (After the FCE, a report will outline “the person’s capacity for work, a summary of the assessment process and findings, and clear recommendations”.)
• WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0): A generic questionnaire developed by WHO that measures functioning in six domains (cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along, life activities and participation). It provides a score of disability/health on a universal scale. WHODAS is internationally recognized and is explicitly recommended in NDIS evidence guidelines for some disabilities.
• Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: An interview-based tool assessing adaptive functioning (communication, daily living skills, socialization). It is often used for people with intellectual disabilities or autism. For example, the NDIS has used Vineland-3 (and the earlier Vineland-II) to measure how a developmental disability impacts everyday abilities.
• PEDI-CAT (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Computer Adaptive Test): A functional assessment for children (typically up to age 21), covering mobility, self-care and social function. It is widely used for young NDIS participants to quantify how a child’s disability affects their daily activities.
• Life Skills Profile –16 (LSP-16) and HoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scale): Standard questionnaires for psychosocial disability (mental illness). These tools evaluate social and occupational functioning. NDIS guidelines list LSP-16 and HoNOS (along with WHODAS) as preferred evidence for people with significant psychosocial disability.
• Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP): An evidence-based checklist used in GP health checks for people with intellectual disabilities. While not a “test” per se, it systematically screens health and functional issues to ensure nothing is missed.
• Impairment Tables and Medical Tests: For schemes like DSP, functional impact may also be inferred from medical impairment tables or clinical tests (e.g. IQ tests for intellectual disability, physical exams for organ system function).

These tools often complement each other. For example, a young person might do the PEDI-CAT to measure functional skills, and an occupational therapist might also conduct an FCE if work capacity is in question. In all cases, the choice of tool depends on age, type of disability, and purpose of the assessment.

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Accessing functional health tests

Who can get tested and where? In general, Australians access functional assessments through health professionals or service systems:

• General practice / primary care: Most people start with their GP. GPs can order assessments or refer to allied health. For example, GPs can book a long health assessment (MBS item 705) that includes a physical function evaluation. They can also refer patients to specialists (e.g. neurologists, psychiatrists) or allied health (physios, OTs, psychologists) for targeted functional assessments. In the case of Medicare-supported checks (like the intellectual disability annual check), the patient simply visits their usual doctor or clinic.
• NDIS participants: Individuals already in the NDIS scheme can request functional assessments through their plan. Participants (or their families/supports) may ask their planner or Local Area Coordinator to include funding for an assessment. The NDIA may then engage an independent assessor or fund a private allied-health provider to do the test. Notably, pilot programs offered these functional impact assessments free of charge to participants, and the NDIA continues to fund assessments (e.g. OTs preparing “NDIS evidence reports”) as part of a plan.
• Insurance and workers’ compensation: People injured at work or claiming disability insurance may be referred for a Functional Capacity Evaluation. In these cases, the insurer or case manager usually arranges the FCE with a contracted provider. Similarly, veterans or military personnel enter rehabilitation schemes that use FCEs. Such assessments are not generally paid by Medicare; they are covered by the insurance or compensation scheme.
• Disability support services: In community and aged care, functional assessments are built into service eligibility. For example, Home and Community Care (HACC) services use tiered functional screens to decide on support needs, and Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) include functional measures in the My Aged Care assessments (e.g. mobility and self-care sections). Local disability support organisations or therapists (government-contracted or NGO) often carry out functional assessments as part of service planning.
• Private healthcare providers: Anyone can also pay privately for a functional assessment. Many private occupational therapy and rehabilitation clinics (often advertising FCE services) will conduct assessments upon referral. These typically require a doctor’s referral (for medical-legal reasons) or can be arranged directly. Note that, unlike GPs’ health checks, privately paid FCEs and similar tests usually do not attract Medicare rebates.

Eligibility, costs and referrals

Eligibility for functional testing depends on the context:

• NDIS: You must be eligible for the NDIS (disability that is permanent and significantly affects your life), but within the scheme functional assessments themselves are available to any participant. The NDIS will fund these assessments if they are “reasonable and necessary” for planning.
• Medicare health assessments: These are only for specific groups (e.g. people 75+, or those with high diabetes risk, or people with intellectual disabilities). In those cases, the assessment is free to the patient (Medicare pays the doctor fully).
• DSP/Income Support: Functional capacity is assessed when you apply for Disability Support Pension or similar benefits. Here, you must undergo the impairment table assessment (by a Centrelink-appointed doctor or allied health professional) to determine your work capacity.
• Insurance/workcover: You need an accepted claim or referral from your insurer/employer to get an FCE. Costs are borne by the insurer.
• Private individuals: If you want a functional assessment privately (e.g. an FCE to use for personal understanding or non-claim purposes), you must pay out-of-pocket. Prices vary widely depending on the scope of testing. No Medicare item directly covers a stand-alone FCE, though allied health sessions related to management plans may be rebated under chronic disease plans (subject to limits).

Referrals typically come from doctors or the responsible agency. For Medicare-funded checks, the patient sees their GP. For NDIS or worker compensation, the organization or case manager arranges the test with a health professional. Often, a letter of referral detailing medical history and test purpose is required.

In short, accessing a functional health test usually involves the pathway of Doctor → Assessment. The doctor evaluates the need and either performs an initial screen or sends you to a specialist tester. For example, if your GP suspects mobility issues, they might book the MBS health assessment (which covers functional evaluation).

If you have a disability, your GP or specialist will provide the necessary reports or NDIA forms so that a thorough functional assessment can proceed.

What to expect during and after testing

A functional health test can be a substantial process. In a Functional Capacity Evaluation, you would typically experience a detailed examination by an occupational or physical therapist. The assessor starts by reviewing your medical history, current symptoms and the specific questions at hand (e.g. “Can you safely return to your job?”).

You will then perform a series of standardised tasks. For physical evaluations, this might include walking tests, lifting/carrying objects, grip strength, bending or reaching tasks – essentially simulating everyday or work activities. For cognitive or psychosocial assessments, you may complete questionnaires or undergo mental tasks under observation. The session(s) often last several hours and may be split over two days to avoid fatigue. Throughout, the therapist observes closely and may use equipment to measure effort or range of motion.

It’s important to come prepared: wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring any assistive devices or medical aids (e.g. glasses, walking stick) that you use. Bring copies of relevant medical reports, and if possible a list of tasks or activities you find difficult. You might be asked to push yourself within safe limits; the assessor will follow strict safety protocols to avoid injury.

After testing, the specialist compiles a formal report. This report details your functional abilities and limitations. As described by veterans’ rehabilitation policy, an FCE report “should contain details about the person’s capacity for work, a summary of the assessment process and findings, and clear recommendations”.

In other words, you will receive an analysis of what you can do (e.g. “can lift 10 kg occasionally”), what you cannot do, and advice on the next steps (such as treatment, workplace modifications or level of benefit). If the test was arranged by an organisation (NDIS, insurer, etc.), the report is shared with them and used to make decisions: for NDIS, it would help set funding for supports; for insurance, it could influence benefits or return-to-work planning.

Between the assessment and the report, you should expect to have the opportunity for questions. The assessor (or your own doctor) should explain the findings: for example, they might explain that “your test shows safe mobility on flat ground but difficulty with stairs” or “your adaptive behaviour score indicates moderate impairment in self-care.” In a psychosocial assessment (using tools like the Life Skills Profile or WHODAS), you would discuss how your mental health or disability affects daily activities, and the assessor would score various domains of function.

In summary, during the test you actively participate in tasks designed to measure function, and after the test you receive a written evaluation of your functional status along with professional recommendations. This information then guides your healthcare or support plan moving forward.

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Recent data and policy developments

Functional assessments have taken on growing importance as Australia’s disability system has evolved. The NDIS has expanded dramatically in recent years – a media release from August 2025 notes the Scheme is now supporting more than 739,000 Australians. With such a large and diverse participant base, consistent functional evaluation is seen as vital for fairness and sustainability.

Policy reviews have repeatedly highlighted this need. The 2019 Independent Review of the NDIS (the “Tune Review”) recommended stronger, evidence-based assessments of need, which led to proposals for standardised testing.

In 2021 the NDIA announced plans for “Independent Assessments” using functional tools (aligned with WHO’s ICF) to improve consistency. At that time, the NDIA clarified that any such assessments “will not determine the supports a person can receive” and would be conducted by health professionals free of charge to participants. (Notably, even in the 2018–19 pilot, participants were told the assessments would be “offered free of charge” and would inform their planning.)

However, the idea of mandatory independent assessments proved controversial. Disability advocates and experts argued that people should control how evidence is gathered and that clinical judgement can’t be fully replaced by a standard test.

In late 2022 the government announced it would not proceed with mandatory independent assessments, instead focusing on providing participants with more choices in how they gather evidence. The NDIA’s official stance remains that functional information is essential, but it will continue to rely mainly on reports from treating clinicians and participant-nominated assessors.

Other recent developments include tightened eligibility rules: from October 2024, NDIS legislation explicitly requires that only those needing NDIS supports (rather than mainstream services) qualify.

In practice, this reinforces that functional impact (needing daily support) is the gateway to the Scheme. At the same time, the NDIS is under pressure to contain costs, so there is intense focus on making sure functional assessments accurately capture a person’s needs. Quarterly reports show scheme growth is slowing, partly because eligibility criteria have been clarified, but also reflecting the sheer scale of supports already in place.

Outside the NDIS, there are no new national policies on functional testing per se, but allied health practice continues to evolve. For example, many states have funded initiatives to improve disability health (such as CHAP in Victoria and NSW). The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and specialists now emphasise “activity-limitation” in disability assessments. In workplace injury, providers increasingly use digital tools and patient-reported outcomes (like eHealth functional forms) for continuity of data.

In summary, there is no single “Functional Health Test” mandated for all Australians, but a framework of assessments woven through health, disability and insurance systems. These range from GP health checks to formal FCEs and standardised questionnaires. Each test aims to measure what people can do, so supports can be matched to needs. With hundreds of thousands of Australians in the NDIS alone, ensuring those tests are fair, accessible and evidence-based is an ongoing priority for policymakers and clinicians alike.

Key points:

• Functional health focuses on a person’s ability to perform daily tasks and participate in life, not just diagnoses.
• Australia uses functional assessments in various screening programs, e.g. Medicare-funded health checks for older adults and people with intellectual disability.
• In insurance and disability contexts, Functional Capacity Evaluations and allied tools determine eligibility and plan supports.
• Common assessments include FCEs (physical tests), WHODAS, Vineland, PEDI-CAT, LSP-16, HoNOS, and the CHAP tool.
  
  
• People access these tests via GPs, referrals from agencies (NDIS, insurers), or private clinics. For some groups (NDIS participants, DSP applicants), tests are publicly funded.
• Expect to be guided through structured tasks during the test, and to receive a detailed report afterward with findings and recommendations.
• Recent NDIS growth (now ~739,000 participants) and legal reforms have reinforced the role of functional assessment in delivering tailored support.

How Vively can help with understanding functional health

Functional health assessments are designed to measure how well your body works in real life, beyond just lab results or diagnoses. They look at your ability to move, recover, and carry out daily activities. Vively complements these assessments by giving you continuous, personalised data about your daily health and performance, helping you connect what shows up in formal tests with what’s really happening in your everyday life.

With Vively, you can:

• Track your metabolic health score: Get a clear view of how lifestyle choices (like activity, sleep, or meals) affect your body’s function day to day.
• Use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): See how your blood sugar responds in real time, a key factor that influences energy, recovery, and overall function.
• Receive 1:1 dietitian coaching: Work with an accredited dietitian who can help translate both your functional test results and your Vively data into simple, practical steps that support better daily living
• Spot trends over time: Functional tests give you a snapshot; Vively fills in the gaps with ongoing insights so you can see whether changes in your habits are improving your health and independence.

By combining traditional functional assessments with Vively’s continuous insights and professional guidance, you get a fuller picture of your health and the tools to make changes that really improve your quality of life.

"Functional health testing is really powerful because it tells us more than just numbers on a lab report — it paints a picture of how someone is actually functioning in daily life. That’s the piece that so often gets overlooked when we only focus on diagnoses or symptoms. With the support of tools like Vively, which show how your body responds in real time, we can combine those medical results with everyday data to make much better decisions for long-term health." – Dr. Michelle Woolhouse, Integrative GP and Holistic Doctor