Work and development permit scheme

The Work and Development Permit (WDP) scheme is a non-financial option to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people address their fine debt and the circumstances that led to them getting the fines. 

A WDP allows an eligible person to work off their fine debt by participating in certain activities and treatment. Information on the WDP scheme and eligibility requirements is available on the Fines Victoria website (External link). 

A person must undertake a WDP under the supervision of an approved sponsor. A sponsor is an organisation or health practitioner accredited by the Director, Fines Victoria to support the WDP scheme. 

If an eligible person is already engaged with an organisation or a health practitioner that is not yet a WDP sponsor, the organisation or health practitioner can contact the WDP team to get information about becoming a sponsor (External link).

Only a sponsor can apply for a WDP on behalf of an eligible person. If an eligible person doesn’t have a sponsor, a list of accredited sponsors is available on the Fines Victoria website (External link).  

To participate in the WDP scheme a person must be engaged with a sponsor and will have or be experiencing:

• a mental or intellectual disability, disorder or illness
• an addiction to drugs, alcohol or a volatile substance
• homelessness
• acute financial hardship, or
• family violence.

The types of activities that a person can undertake as part of a WDP include:

• unpaid work
• treatment given by a doctor, nurse or psychologist
• courses, including educational, vocational or life skills courses
• counselling by a social worker or occupational therapist under a mental health plan
• counselling, including financial or other types of counselling
• drug and alcohol counselling, and
• mentoring (for a person under 25 years of age).

When applying for a WDP, a sponsor will help an eligible person to choose the activities that are best suited to their needs.

An eligible person can undertake a WDP to reduce or work off their infringement fine debt. There are some circumstances in which a fine cannot be included in a WDP, for example if:

• the fine has been paid in full
• certain sanctions have been applied against a person
• the fine is a court fine
• a person has been served a 7 Day Notice in relation to the fine and the 7 Day Notice period has expired
• a person has been arrested, or
• a vehicle seizure and sale notice has been issued.

While a person is undertaking a WDP, enforcement activity is suspended in relation to the fines that are subject to the WDP.

Other ways to deal with fines

A WDP is just one way to deal with fines. Depending on what stage the fine is at, some of the other options to deal with fines include:

• payment (External link) (including paying by instalments)
• applying for a review (External link) (including on the grounds of special circumstances)
• electing to have a matter determined by a magistrate (External link)
• the Family Violence Scheme (External link), or
• the Prison Program (External link).

The most appropriate option to deal with fines will depend on a person’s circumstances. 

To help decide which option is the most suitable, a person may wish to seek legal advice, for example, by contacting a community legal centre via the Federation of Community Legal Centres (External link) or Victoria Legal Aid (External link).

WDP Guidelines

The WDP scheme is established under Part 2A of Victoria’s Fines Reform Act 2014 and is supported by the Attorney-General WDP Guidelines. The Guidelines include detailed information about the scheme and the role of a WDP sponsor.