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
How a WDO works
If you’re eligible for a WDO, you can pay off or reduce a fine by:
- doing unpaid Voluntary work such as Cleaning, or Yard Maintenance
- taking a course such as ‘Sorted‘, ‘Empower‘ or an Anglicare Parenting Course or
- receiving treatment.
When your application for a Work and Development Order (WDO) is approved, you will:
- be supported by an approved WDO sponsor
- and agree with your WDO Sponsor about the activities you will complete to pay off all or part of the fine or penalty
Under a WDO, both you and your WDO Sponsor must agree to our terms and conditions. Following are some of the more important rules you need to know.
Find a WDO Sponsor
Click on logos below or check out others at Revenue NSW – Find a WDO Sponsor
The benefits of WDOs
A WDO can help people who are finding it hard to clear a government debt to make a fresh start.
Watch these Legal Aid NSW videos below to learn about how WDOs have helped people pay their fines and move on with their lives.