Pre-Employment MedicalsPre-Employment Functional Assessments
Objective, job-specific physical capacity testing — lifts, carries, push/pull, reach and posture — performed against the inherent demands of the role. So you hire with confidence and reduce work-related injuries.
Delivered by KINNECT exercise physiologists and physiotherapists at clinics nationally, or onsite at your workplace.
The short version
A KINNECT Pre-Employment Functional Assessment tests whether a candidate can safely perform the lift, carry, push/pull, reach and posture demands of a specific role. It's run by an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist at any KINNECT clinic in Australia — or onsite — typically takes 30 to 60 minutes for the functional tasks, and the report is returned to the employer the same day.
Hire with confidence in your new starter’s physical capacity.
A Pre-Employment Functional Assessment (PEFA) measures whether a candidate can safely and sustainably perform the inherent physical requirements of a specific role. Each task is standardised, scored against the demands of the job — not a generic benchmark — and the result is a clear pass / conditional / not-suitable recommendation employers can rely on.
Lift & lower
Floor-to-knuckle, knuckle-to-shoulder and shoulder-to-overhead lifts to validated, role-matched weights.
Carry
Bilateral and single-handed carries over the distances and grades the role actually requires.
Push & pull
Static and dynamic horizontal force testing to confirm safe handling of loads, doors, trolleys and equipment.
Reach & posture
Sustained reach, overhead work, kneeling, squatting and trunk postures matched to the inherent demands of the role.
Manual handling technique
Functional movement screening to identify technique risks before they become incidents on day one.
Cardiorespiratory tolerance
Where the role demands it — step test or sustained activity to confirm aerobic capacity for the task.
When physical capacity isn’t something to guess at.
PEFAs are most often used for safety-critical, physically demanding roles where a poor hiring decision turns into a workers’ compensation claim within months.
Heavy industry & resources
Mining, oil & gas, construction and civil — roles with sustained lifting, carrying and overhead work.
Transport & logistics
Warehousing, freight handling, drivers and couriers loading and unloading manually every shift.
Manufacturing & trades
Production line, fabrication, maintenance and trades roles with repetitive, force-based tasks.
Emergency services & defence
Roles that need to demonstrate the capacity to perform safety-critical tasks under pressure.
Healthcare & care work
Patient handling, transfers and bed-side care where injury risk is well-documented.
Bulk recruitment campaigns
High-volume hiring where consistent, defensible decisions across many sites and recruiters matter.
What happens during a PEFA.
A standardised four-step process — designed to be quick for the candidate and defensible for the employer.
- 01
Job-task review
We work with you up-front to define the inherent role demands. If there’s no Job Dictionary in place, our team can build one or align testing to your task analysis.
- 02
Pre-screen & consent
The candidate completes a health declaration and informed consent. Blood pressure, heart rate and musculoskeletal screening confirm it’s safe to proceed.
- 03
Functional testing
The clinician guides the candidate through the role-matched lift, carry, push/pull, reach and posture tasks. 30–60 minutes for the functional component.
- 04
Report & recommendation
A clear, defensible report with a pass / conditional / not-suitable recommendation is returned to the employer the same day, ready for the hiring decision.
In-clinic or onsite — wherever your candidates are.
PEFAs are delivered at KINNECT-owned clinics in every Australian capital and major regional centre, through our partner clinic network where needed, and onsite at your workplace for campaigns and remote operations.
For high-volume hiring we can combine the PEFA with a Pre-Employment Medical, drug & alcohol screen, audiometry or spirometry — all in a single visit, with one consolidated report.
Defensible, every time.
Every assessment is delivered against published standards by tertiary-qualified, registered clinicians — so the recommendation stands up when it matters.
- Performed by AHPRA-registered Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Accredited Exercise Physiologists
- Tasks matched to the inherent requirements of the role — not generic benchmarks
- Aligned to Safe Work Australia’s Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice
- Supports defensible hiring decisions under the Fair Work Act and Disability Discrimination Act
- Pre-employment Medical Assessment can be combined on the same visit
Common questions about PEFAs.
How long does a Pre-Employment Functional Assessment take?
Depending on the level of assessment, most pre-employment functional assessments take between 30 and 60 minutes for the functional tasks. A pre-employment medical assessment can be undertaken at the same visit if required.
Who performs the Pre-Employment Functional Assessment?
Tertiary-qualified, AHPRA-registered Allied Health Professionals — Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Accredited Exercise Physiologists.
Can the assessment be delivered onsite?
Yes. For high-volume hiring or remote operations our clinicians can deliver PEFAs at your workplace, in line with the same standards used in clinic.
What does the candidate need to bring?
Photo ID, comfortable closed-in footwear and clothing they can move freely in, plus any prescription glasses or hearing aids they normally use at work.
More pre-employment medicals.
Pair a PEFA with the right medical for your industry — or browse the full range of pre-employment services we deliver nationally.
Pre-Employment Medical Assessments
Role-matched medical assessments — combine with a PEFA in a single visit.
Learn moreCommercial Drivers Medical
Austroads-compliant medicals for heavy vehicle and commercial drivers.
Learn moreQLD Coal Board Medicals
Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme medicals for QLD coal mining roles.
Learn moreRail Safety Worker Medicals
NTC-aligned Category 1, 2 and 3 medicals for rail safety workers.
Learn moreConfined Space Medicals
Fitness-for-task medicals for confined space entry and rescue roles.
Learn more
Have confidence in your new hire’s physical capacity.
Tell us about the roles you’re hiring for and we’ll design a PEFA program tailored to the inherent demands of each one — at clinic, onsite, or both.