Work and Development Program
Do you have ACT or NSW fines? Are you interested in reducing your fines by attending Care's Budgeting For Life workshop for approved Work or Development Program (WDP) / Work and Development Order (WDO) participants?
About the Work and Development Program
If you are struggling to pay ACT, NSW, VIC, or QLD fines, you may be eligible to complete a community work or social development program that can reduce the amount of infringement debt you owe.
These arrangements are known as Work and Development Program (WDP), Work and Development Order (WDO) or Work and Development Permit Scheme (WDP) depending on the state or territory.
Care is an approved program provider and may offer financial literacy education (life skills) and financial counselling as eligible activities under a WDP/WDO, where appropriate.
To receive credit toward a fine, a WDP/WDO must first be approved by the relevant state authority (for example Access Canberra or Service NSW). Only after approval can participation in an eligible Care activity be counted toward a WDP/WDO.
Learn more about eligibility and approval
Each state and territory manages its own eligibility criteria and approval process. For more information, visit:
Not sure if a WDP/WDO is right for you?
A Work and Development Program/Order is not always the most suitable option for everyone.
If you are struggling to pay traffic or parking infringements, you can contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. A financial counsellor can talk to you about your situation, explain your options, and make referrals to approved WDP/WDP providers where appropriate.
For approved WDP/O participants at Care
Each workshop session has a different topic and guest speaker. Depending on the amount of fines you have, you can attend as many sessions as needed. Participants can attend sessions either in person or online.
Upcoming financial literacy education sessions Feb-May 2026:
10/2
Tuesday
10am- 12pm
Tenancy Issues (Canberra Community Law)
The Tenancy Workshop is a free community education session run by Canberra Community Law (CCL) to help renters understand their rights and responsibilities under ACT tenancy law.
19/2
Thursday
10am - 12pm
Superannuation Basics (Ness Super)
The workshop is an introduction to superannuation and focuses on how superannuation works, some steps to build your superannuation, what to look for in a superannuation fund, as well as the types of insurances held in super to protect you financially and is suitable for any age.
3/3
Tuesday
2pm-4pm
Making your Health Dollar Stretch (Health Consumers Association)
The workshop is designed to help consumers in the ACT and its surrounds make more cost-effective and financially sustainable choices when using health services.
17/3
Thursday
2pm-4pm
Legal Aid - Private Tenancy Explained
This workshop is about private tenancy agreements, including commonly experienced issues and how to resolve them. For example, what are the laws about pets in a private tenancy? Can you be evicted? Can you make changes around the home?
19/3
Thursday
2pm-4pm
Tax Basics (ANU Tax Clinic)
Join ANU's Tax for Beginners workshop—a friendly session designed to simplify the basics of tax for newcomers to the Australian tax system. We’ll cover everything from applying for your Tax File Number (TFN) and linking your MyGov to the ATO, to filing simple or overdue tax returns and non-lodgement advice.
24/3
Tuesday
10am-12pm
Social Security Law (Canberra Community Law)
The Social Security Law workshop is a free community education session delivered by Canberra Community Law (CCL). It helps people understand Centrelink decisions, payments, and appeal rights under Australian social security law.
31/3
Tuesday
2pm-4pm
Advance Care Planning (Health Consumers Association)
The Advance Care Planning workshop, delivered by the Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA), is a free community education session that helps people understand how to plan and communicate their future health care wishes.
28/4
Tuesday
10am-12pm
Disability and Racial Discrimination (Canberra Community Law)
The Disability and Racial Discrimination Law workshop is a free community legal education session delivered by Canberra Community Law (CCL). It helps people understand their rights under discrimination law in the ACT and Australia, and what to do if they experience discrimination.
30/4
Thursday
10am-12pm
Your Rights at Work (Women's Legal Centre)
This workshop explains key workplace rights, with a focus on issues that commonly affect anyone who is employed whether full-time, part-time, casual or doing gig work.
14/5
Thursday
10am-12pm
Superannuation Basics (Ness Super)
The workshop is an introduction to superannuation and focuses on how superannuation works, some steps to build your superannuation, what to look for in a superannuation fund, as well as the types of insurances held in super to protect you financially and is suitable for any age.
4/5
Monday
10am-12pm
Step-by-Step Budgeting (Care Community Education)
This workshop offers a guided tour of the key steps in budgeting. We also explore your relationship with money, and the behaviours, values and emotions that impact our financial wellbeing.
5/5
Tuesday
10am-12pm
Scam Awareness (Care Community Education)
Learn about the latest scam trends and what to do to protect yourself and also what to do if you have been impacted by a scam
6/5
Wednesday
10am-12pm
Eating Healthy on a Budget (Care Community Education)
The cost-of-living crisis has put a strain on our grocery bill, and this has meant making more conscious choices around how we shop and plan our meals. This workshop provides some food for thought on how to reduce the cost of food shopping without compromising your health
7/5
Thursday
10am-12pm
Surviving Debt (Care Community Education)
Unmanageable debt can have a devastating impact on our physical and mental health. Debt that is no longer affordable can feel overwhelming, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. this session will help you understand pathways out of debt and debt prevention
8/5
Friday
10am-12pm
Relationships and Money (Care Community Education)
Explore your personal relationship with money, and with others. Understand the impact society, our families and personal experiences have on our money beliefs, values and behaviours. Finally explore the role of money in relationships, such as power, control and identifying abusive behaviour.
