What is a Work and Develoment Order ?

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)
Receiving Mentoring from a more experienced person (e.g. mentoring by an indigenous elder)

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

Recent court fines & WDOs

If a client has been issued a fine from a NSW Court and wishes to deal with it on a WDO, then choose from the below options:

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

Or the Faster way – The client should visit / contact the registry of the issuing Local Court and request the fine to be ‘early enforced’. Contact wdo@legalaid.nsw.gov.au for help. They will eventually be issued by Revenue NSW a fine/s notice. (Last updated 19/2/2025)

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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: $206,503
across 298 WDOs as at 17/3/2025
Note: Chaplain Stu formerly worked at
Break the Cycle Glenquarie Inc (closed December 2022)
WDO credits applied at BTCG: $356,000 across 486 WDOs as at 30/12/2022

Campbelltown Anglican WDO Sponsor since August 2024
Total WDO credits applied: $1290 as at March 2025

EAGLE VALE Anglican WDO Sponsor since 2018
Total WDO credits applied: $120,641 as at 23/4/2023

St Clement’s LALOR PARK WDO Sponsor since 2023
Total WDO credits applied: $670 as at June 2024

MINCHINBURY Anglican WDO Sponsor since 2023
Total WDO credits applied: $2,986 as at June 2024

St James WHALAN WDO Sponsor since 2024
Total WDO credits applied: $TBA

St Mark’s SADLEIR WDO Sponsor since 2021
Total WDO credits applied: $44,000

St Michael’s WOLLONGONG WDO Sponsor since early 2024
Total WDO credits applied: TBA

All Saints NOWRA WDO sponsor August 2023
Total WDO credits applied: TBA

TAMWORTH AREA

St Peter’s TAMWORTH has been a WDO Sponsor since 2023
Total WDO credits applied: TBA

How to setup your church / organisation as a WDO Sponsor

Click on button to watch YouTube videos for how to setup as a WDO Sponsor…

WDO Sponsor – How to videos

WDO statistics NSW

Fines Statistics NSW

Overdue fines statistics NSW

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 videos below to learn about how WDOs have helped people pay their fines and move on with their lives.