Fines & WDOs

This episode is part of a series that looks at online legal help tools. In this episode Josh from the Community Legal Education Branch takes you into the world of how a new online tool, Fine Fixer NSW, can help you or your clients if you get a fine. We interview Brendan Lacota (former principal solicitor at Moonee Valley Legal Service and now a consultant) who was one of the key people behind the creation of the tool, and Kirsty Harrison (Senior Solicitor) and Nicole Stack (Paralegal) from Legal Aid NSW who were both key in bringing the tool to NSW from Victoria. Use the links below to find out more information about what we talked about in the episode: Fine Fixer NSW Work and Development Order Service at Legal Aid NSW – contact 1300 888 529 or wdo@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Revenue NSW – Call the WDO Hotline number on 1300 478 879 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) Law Check-up – a tool to help you identify legal issues and refer your client for help You can listen to another episode in this series (or search for it where you listen to podcasts) here: Episode 1: Does technology have a place in legal services? Let’s find out Episode 3: Simple, smart separation - how amica can help Editing by Tiffany Dimmack from Audiocraft Please send questions, comments, and feedback to: cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

In this episode we speak with Jane Sanders, Principal Solicitor, The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre about what young drivers need to know about traffic law and how to deal with things that can take them off the road like fines, licence suspensions and licence disqualifications. Jane also gives her top tips for going to Court and dealing with the Police if pulled over. Below are timestamps for some of the key messages and links to resources talked about in the episode. 2:30       Information about The Shopfront and who they help 10:15    Which Court is my traffic matter heard in? 12:15    Traffic fines 14:00    Licence suspensions 19:15    Licence disqualifications 24:30    Going to Court for your traffic matter 29:15    Police Powers The Shopfront – Factsheets about Traffic law 1 – Getting a driver licence in NSW 3 – Driving without a licence 4 – Licence suspensions and appeals 7 – Serious traffic offences and courts Free legal help - Traffic Offences The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre - https://www.theshopfront.org/ Marrickville Legal Centre Youth Legal Service – Ask NALA – Traffic offences - https://www.mlc.org.au/services/youth/ Legal Aid NSW traffic offences guided pathway - https://traffic.guidedpathways.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/ Legal Aid NSW traffic publications – use hyperlink Driving: penalties, licences and insurance - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/publications/factsheets-and-resources LawAccess NSW – Applying to remove your driver licence disqualification step by step guide - https://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/Pages/representing/driving_offences_and_crime/driving_and_crime_after_court/SBSG_rem_d_disq.aspx A second chance for Disqualified Drivers webinar – recorded Feb 2021 -  https://youtu.be/YEAGoeA6pi4 Fines and Work & Development Orders Transport for NSW - Demerit points, penalties and offences on NSW roads - https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/roads/demerits-offences/index.html Finefixer NSW guided pathway – https://nsw.finefixer.org.au/ Revenue NSW - Request a review of your fine - https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/fines-and-fees/request-a-review Nominate another driver if you weren’t responsible for the offence - https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/fines-and-fees/nominate-someone-else Legal Aid NSW Work and Development Order Service - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/civil-law/work-and-development-order-service Police Powers and Young People Legal Aid NSW Street Smart publication - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/publications/factsheets-and-resources/get-street-smart-under-18s-know-your-legal-rights Youth Hotline – 1800 10 18 10 - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/criminal-law/youth-hotline To organise a Legal Aid NSW Police Powers workshop at your service use this Request a Talk form - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/workshops/request-a-talk Traffic offender intervention programs - https://localcourt.nsw.gov.au/local-court/sentencing--orders-and-appeals/sentencing-in-criminal-cases/traffic-offender-intervention-program.html Legal Aid NSW Legal information for young people videos (created 2021). Available in English, Arabic, Dari and Swahili with or without captions- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLApA5ctFL2pWuf1BhCRAVU0Rje7oZvOTe Editing by Tiffany Dimmack from Audiocraft

In this episode we talk to Katherine Boyle. Katherine is the Executive Director of the Welfare Rights Centre. The Welfare Rights Centre is a specialist legal service helping people across NSW with Centrelink problems including debts. Katherine talks about her burning issues around Centrelink debts, the help provided by the Welfare Rights Centre lawyers and different ways that community workers can support their clients when they get a Centrelink debt they don't understand. The links below are for the services and resources discussed in the episode. You can contact the Welfare Rights Centre by phone on 1800 226 028 during one of their advice intake times. This number is toll free if you are calling from outside the Sydney metro area. The advice intake times are: Monday – 9.:30am to 12.30pm Wednesday – 9.30am to 12.30pm Thursday – 1.30pm to 4.30pm If your matter is urgent, such as if you have lost your payment and have no other source of income, you can call on the office number – 02 9211 5300 - to speak to a lawyer straight away. You also have the option to make an online enquiry through the website – https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/need-help. Scroll down on the home page and click on the link to making an online enquiry. There are also factsheets on the website that you can download about a range of Centrelink legal problems. If you live in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven or South Coast you can contact the Illawarra Legal Centre Welfare Rights Service You can also contact the Legal Aid NSW Government law team to talk about Centrelink problems. Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 to be referred to this team. Call the National Debt Helpline if you need help with any money problems on 1800 007 007. The NDH also has a Centrelink Debts step by step guide that you can download. Economic Justice Australia is the peak body for Welfare Rights Centres across Australia. See their Economic Australia Centrelink Debts Factsheet – last updated April 2020.

In this episode we speak with Isabella Wallington and Bud Crawford from the Revenue NSW Hardship Program. This Program commenced in 2020 and aims to implement a range of strategies to reduce the negative impact of fines debt on vulnerable young people and First Nations people. You will hear about a range of initiatives underway and what is planned for 2021 and beyond. We also talk about how you can help your vulnerable clients speak to Revenue NSW to take advantage of these initiatives and break the cycle of disadvantage associated with fines debt. To get in touch with Revenue NSW and for help with fines - referrals and more information To contact us on behalf of your customers about managing a debt and to access the Advocacy Hotline, you and any individual employees who may deal with us will need to  register with us. During registration, you will need to acknowledge that you’ve read and agreed to the Advocacy  Charter https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/advocate-charter . The Charter ensures advocates understand where they stand with us. It establishes a common understanding of the obligations and standards of conduct and behaviour expected of our advocates.  Information on how to register etc. is available from the following RNSW website link https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/fines-and-fees/advocates For more information, visit advocates and sponsors.  The Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline provides advocacy groups a priority service and it is supported Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm. The hotline number is 1300 135 627 Revenue NSW WDO and First Nations Hotline – 1300 478 879 Revenue NSW brochure – help with your fines = getting back on track brochure for young people - https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/fines-getting-back-on-track-youth.pdf Revenue NSW brochure – help with your fines = getting back on track brochure for First Nations people - https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/fines-getting-back-on-track-aboriginal-peoples.pdf For free legal help call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 For information about work and development orders (WDOs) to clear NSW fines – go to the Legal Aid NSW WDO service web page - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/civil-law/work-and-development-order-service For information about the Cooperative Legal Service Delivery (CLSD) program, regions and contact in your local area – go to https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/community-partnerships/cooperative-legal-services-delivery-clsd-program Edited by Bernadette Nguyen from Audiocraft.

Tell us what you really think of our podcasts - help us keep this resource going! This episode was recorded in November and December 2019.  The statistics quoted by some of the people interviewed relate to that time. In May 2020 there is approximately $850 million of fines debt in NSW and the WDO Program sponsors have assisted people to clear over $200 million of fines debt since it started in 2011.  Links and referrals Legal Aid NSW – Work and Development Order Service web page Legal Aid NSW – Work and Development Order Service publications – search under Money, Debt & Fines Revenue NSW – Work and Development Order Guidelines Revenue NSW – Become a Work and Development Order Sponsor Revenue NSW – Find a Work and Development Order Sponsor Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline – Become an Advocate to speak to Revenue NSW about your client’s fines Revenue NSW WDO Hotline – 1300 478 879 Legal Aid NSW Youtube Channel – Fines and WDOs Playlist Legal Aid NSW Law for Community Workers on the go podcast about the WDO Service Law Check-Up – help your client to find out what legal problems they have, including fines   This episode was produced by Audiocraft's Nicole Curby

Do you have clients who have debts from travelling on toll roads? Listen to this podcast to find out about programs that can help and how Legal Aid NSW lawyers have helped turn people’s lives around by helping them with their tolls debt. COVID-19 update. If you are supporting clients whose employment or financial situation has been impacted by COVID-19, listen to the podcast to find out how you can get up to 3 months toll credit.  Referrals and more information Help with tolls during COVID-19 Transurban Linkt Assist information for community workers helping clients with tolling debt Contact the Linkt Assist dedicated line for the community sector 1300 110 129 Video for community workers on helping clients with tolling debt https://tollingombudsman.com.au/ Linkt Assist help for bushfire victims The Financial Rights Legal Latest Alert for community workers Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 Visit the Legal Aid NSW website

Call to action!   Tell us what you really think of 'Law for Community Workers on the go' - help this resource grow and improve.   Work and Development Order Service – helping people pay off their NSW fines debt In this episode Kerry Wright talks to Jessica McLaren. Jessica is a lawyer with the Legal Aid NSW Work and Development Order (WDO) Service. Jessica talks to Kerry about the WDO Service and how it helps people with NSW fines debt to pay off their fines through participating in activities like volunteer work, courses, counselling, mentoring and treatment programs.  Referrals and more information To find more information about the Work and Development Order Service and services which can help: To find out more about fines and becoming a WDO sponsor organisation see the Revenue NSW website To join the Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline To get free legal advice about fines or training as a WDO sponsor contact the Legal Aid NSW WDO service. Contact details are on our website - or you can email wdo@legalaid.nsw.gov.au To discuss fines debt and WDO options contact the Revenue NSW WDO hotline team on 1300 478 879 To understand more about the WDO service watch the Legal Aid NSW Youtube video Work and Development Orders: Breaking the cycle of fines debt To find out details of your local Legal Aid office or Community Legal Centre call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529  Please note: The NSW Work and Development Order Service can only assist in paying off fines issued in NSW through penalty notices, court fines and Victims Restitution Orders. If your client has fines debt from another State or Territory contact your local Legal Aid NSW WDO Service team and they can assist in explaining what options are available to pay off interstate fines debt.

Call to action!   Tell us what you really think of 'Law for Community Workers on the go' - help this resource grow and improve.   Do you work with people who have lost their driver licence? Losing a driver licence can have a big impact on individuals and families, particularly those who live in regional and rural areas. Did you know that some drivers can now apply to have their driver disqualification periods removed? In this podcast we discuss: new laws that offer a second chance for disqualified drivers who can apply under this new scheme, and the things you can do to help your clients get back on the road.    Referrals and more information You can find more information about the new laws and how to apply to get your licence back: in the Legal Aid NSW brochure called Are you disqualified from driving? on the Legal Aid NSW website in the Representing Yourself section of the LawAccess NSW website.   Legal Aid NSW can help you work out how to deal with fines. You may be able to get a Work and Development Order which allows you to clear fines through unpaid work, courses, counselling or treatment. For more information or to find a WDO service in your area call 02 9219 5000 or visit our website.