Doesn't doing it remotely make it less thorough?
It's a fair question. If you picture a single video call, it's natural to wonder whether a telehealth assessment can really capture what an in-person one would. But an FCA — in person or remote — was never a single conversation. It's a structured process that draws on several sources, and telehealth changes how those are delivered, not what they are.
What a telehealth FCA actually involves
A telehealth FCA brings together the same components as any thorough assessment.
Structured questionnaires
Detailed forms about daily life, completed before the interview, mapping function across every domain.
Standardised tools
Internationally recognised measures like the WHODAS 2.0 — applied the same way regardless of delivery.
A real interview
A structured conversation, usually around an hour, walking through your day-to-day life.
Document review
Your medical letters, therapy notes and reports, read alongside everything else.
The video or phone call is one part of that — not the whole thing.
What doing it remotely makes possible
Delivering an assessment by telehealth isn't only a convenience — it brings real advantages, both for the quality of the picture and for who can access it.
- You're in your own environment. We observe how you function where life actually happens — your home, your setup — not a clinic room you've never been in.
- It removes barriers. No travel, no waiting rooms, less fatigue and anxiety. For many people, that means the assessment reflects them more fairly.
- It reaches everyone. Adults and children anywhere in Australia, including regional and remote areas, can access the same senior-led assessment.
Seeing how you function where you actually are
There's a clinical advantage that's easy to miss: when we meet you at home, we're seeing you in your real environment, with your real supports and daily setup around you. Travel and an unfamiliar clinic can mask how someone actually copes — sometimes making them appear more capable than a typical day allows, sometimes less. Removing that variable often makes the picture more accurate, not less.
Telehealth removes the journey and the waiting room — and lets us see how you function in the place your life actually happens.— Nisha Bal, Seeds OT
Held to the same standard
A telehealth FCA is written to exactly the same standard as any other. The same validated tools, the same clinical reasoning, the same NDIS alignment — and at Seeds, the same senior review, with every report reasoned and signed off by Nisha Bal. Remote delivery doesn't lower the bar; it changes the logistics.
When telehealth isn't the right choice
We're honest about the limits. This model relies on telehealth, and on the structured questionnaires being completed. If those questionnaires can't be completed, or a fully in-person assessment is genuinely required for your situation, a face-to-face FCA with another provider may suit you better. If you're unsure, get in touch and we'll talk it through.
Frequently asked
Yes. The report is written to the same standard and aligned with NDIS requirements regardless of how the assessment is delivered. Telehealth is a recognised, widely used way of conducting these assessments.
Either — whichever works best for you. Assessments use secure video or phone calls, so you can take part comfortably from home or wherever you live in Australia.
That's completely fine. We keep the setup simple, and a trusted person — a carer, family member or support coordinator — is welcome to help you join and take part. A phone call is always an option if video feels like too much.
Yes. The process is adapted to a child's age and developmental stage, and parents, carers and schools are included where appropriate to understand how the child functions across different environments.