What is a Work and Development Order (WDO)?

Work and Development Orders (WDOs) are a way to help people who can’t pay their fines.
People who are eligible for a WDO can clear their fines with approved activities instead of money.

You may be unable to pay a Revenue NSW fine or overdue fine/s due to:

mental illness, intellectual disability or cognitive impairment
addiction to drugs, alcohol or other substances
homelessness
extreme financial hardship.

In these cases you may be eligible for a WDO instead of a payment plan.

https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/fines-and-fees/cant-pay-your-debt

Revenue NSW – WDO Hotline 1300 478 879

Call WDO Hotline

How a WDO works

If you’re eligible for a WDO, you can pay off or reduce a fine through:

Attending a educational activity / course such as ‘Sorted‘, ‘Empower‘, bible study, Explaining Christianity or English classes
Doing Unpaid Voluntary work such as Cleaning, or Yard Maintenance
Receiving treatment for addiction and/or mental health issues. (only available through AOD professionally trained WDO sponsors)

If your application for a Work and Development Order (WDO) is approved, you will:

be supported by an approved WDO sponsor like the churches listed below.

and agree with your WDO Sponsor about the activities you will complete to pay off all or part of the fines balance

Under a WDO, both you and your WDO Sponsor must agree to Revenue NSW terms and conditions.

WDO Sponsor Resources

Court fines & WDOs

If you have been issued a fine from a NSW Court and wish to deal with it on a WDO, then choose from the below options:

The Slow way – do nothing and after about 2 months the court fine/s will be transferred over to Revenue NSW, you will then be sent an Overdue Fines notice (this also attracts an extra $65 once off fee, per fine)

Or the Faster way – Visit the court office cashier and say to them you request…
“Voluntary Early Enforcement of your Court fine/s, for the purpose of dealing with them on a Revenue NSW – Work and Development Order (WDO).” The court should then transfer the fine/s to Revenue NSW who deal with payment plans. You will eventually be issued by Revenue NSW a fine/s notice.
Contact your WDO Sponsor to help you from that point. (Last updated 22/12/2023)

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Find a WDO Sponsor Here are some churches who are, or seeking to be WDO Sponsors…

St Luke’s LIVERPOOL WDO sponsor since 2019
Total WDO credits applied: $200,290
across 287 WDOs as at 21/01/2025
Note: Chaplain Stu formerly worked at
Break the Cycle Glenquarie Inc (closed December 2022)
WDO credits applied: $356,000 across 486 WDOs as at 30/12/2022