WA Work and Development Permit (clear court fines without paying)
WA residents facing financial hardship, family violence, mental illness, disability, homelessness or alcohol/drug problems may be eligible to reduce or clear court fines by completing approved activities instead of paying, through a Work and Development Permit arranged by a sponsor.
$70 for each hour of drug or alcohol treatment, medical or mental health treatment, an educational, vocational or life skills course, or mentoring (for under-25s); $50 for each hour of voluntary unpaid work.
Who qualifies
People with unpaid WA court fines, after a Notice of Intention to Enforce has been issued, who are experiencing financial hardship, family violence (or risk of it), mental illness, disability, homelessness (or risk of it), alcohol or drug use problems, or another type of hardship, and who have a sponsor to submit the application.
Eligibility, quoted from the source
“You may be eligible for a WDP if you: are experiencing financial hardship; have been or might be subjected or exposed to family violence; have a mental illness; have a disability; are homeless; are experiencing alcohol or drug use problems; are experiencing another type of hardship.”
How to claim
- Wait until a Notice of Intention to Enforce has been issued on the court fine
- Find a sponsor willing to supervise and submit the application, e.g. via Legal Aid WA's Work and Development Permit Service
- Have the sponsor apply to the Fines Enforcement Registry for a Work and Development Permit
- Complete the approved activity after approval to reduce the fine at $70 or $50 an hour depending on the activity
Sources
- https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/work-and-development-permit-scheme (accessed 10/25/2026)
- https://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/civil-law (accessed 10/25/2026)
Last checked 10/26/2026
You may be eligible for this, but we can't confirm eligibility or amounts. Always check the official source before you claim.
Q&A
No questions yet. Be the first to ask.