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Work and Development Orders (WDOs) help vulnerable young people clear unpaid fines with approved activities instead of money. Revenue NSW, Legal Aid NSW and the Department of Justice deliver the WDO scheme. Participation in a WDO is voluntary.
Young people in care under the age of 18 will automatically be eligible for the WDO program. Care leavers aged 18 up to 25 years are recognised under the ‘acute economic hardship’ category. Eligibility for other people can be found at Revenue NSW.
Time spent participating in activities such as a TAFE course, treatment program, life skills course, counselling and other options will help reduce and pay off a fine.
An application for a WDO must be supported by an approved WDO sponsor who will encourage participation in suitable and appropriate activities and monitor completion of agreed activities.
Each DCJ district is an approved WDO sponsor, so caseworkers can support the people they work with to clear unpaid fines. If DCJ staff want to know more they can read the WDO mandate that has been published on the DCJ intranet under Casework Practice. The mandate outlines what to do in considering and applying for WDO, how to monitor progress and closing a WDO.
There are some non-government organisations who are also sponsors. Apply online through Revenue NSW if your organisation would like to become a sponsor. It does not cost anything to be a WDO sponsor.
Being able to pay off a fine, whether through financial means or by use of a WDO is a relief when it’s done. Assisting young people in care and care leavers to pay their fine is likely to promote self esteem and self-efficiency, reduce stress, reduce reoffending, increase life skills and address factors that made it hard to manage debts.
It can also reduce the risk of being unable to apply for a driver’s licence and help their mental and physical health by dealing appropriately with serious disorders or addictions (for example by attending a drug and alcohol treatment program).
Overdue fees can build quickly and without being aware of it, a small fine can easily turn into a large fine if left unpaid. Help young people manage their fines before they turn 18 years old.
Caseworkers are encouraged to ask young people, their parents or carers and any significant others about whether they have any unpaid fines. If they cannot afford to paytheir fine, they should be encouraged to pay off their fines through participating in the WDO program.
Caseworkers can check on behalf of the young person if they have any fines by calling the Advocacy Hotline on 1300 135 627. To do this, caseworkers will need to register as an advocate on the Revenue NSW website which is a simple process to complete.
Activity |
Detail |
Examples |
Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
Unpaid work with or on behalf of an approved organisation |
Unpaid work must be undertaken with or on behalf of a sponsor organisation. The participant must be covered by the sponsor organisation’s insurance and workplace health and safety (WHS) provisions. |
|
$30 per hour |
Education, vocational and life skills courses |
Educational courses include courses undertaken at university, TAFE or other educational institutions. They also include courses undertaken in community or private colleges, or through a job service provider (as long as the activity is in addition to any Centrelink obligations). |
|
$50 per hour |
Financial or other counselling |
Financial counselling can help young people with advice about debt issues and budgeting strategies. Counselling can help with resolving issues of an interpersonal or personal nature as well as other emotional and behavioural issues. |
|
$50 per hour |
Medical or mental health treatment |
Medical or mental health treatment must be undertaken in accordance with a health practitioner’s treatment plan (may encompass pharmacotherapy, as well as face-to-face sessions with apsychiatrist or psychologist). |
|
$1000 a month for full compliance with treatment plan |
Drug and alcohol treatment |
Drug or alcohol treatment aims to assist people to overcome dependencies on, or misuse of, alcohol and/or other drugs. |
|
$1000 a month for full compliance with treatment plan |
Participating in a mentoring program (under 25 years of age) |
A mentoring relationship focuses on the needs of the mentee and is structured in a way that encourages progress towards the achievement of milestones and goals. |
|
$1000 a month for full participation |
Approved sponsors support applications for WDOs and supervise the completion of activities or work undertake by the applicant by using the WDO self-service portal to manage the administration of a WDO.
17 Feb 2023