ACT work or development plan/program • Psychology support
Work or Development Program Psychology ACT
The ACT allows eligible people to discharge certain infringement debt through an approved work or development plan, often called a Work or Development Program (WDP). An approved provider is required, and an agreed plan may include mental health treatment, counselling, courses, mentoring or unpaid work.
At a glance
Program
Work or development plan/program (commonly WDP)
Authority
Access Canberra / Infringement Review Office
Debt covered
Eligible traffic/camera and parking infringements; some parking issuers are excluded
Sponsor term
Approved sponsor
Psychology fit
Physical or mental health treatment and counselling may be approved
Important limit
Approval and provider support are required; check the issuing authority and fine type
What the Australian Capital Territory work or development program is
The ACT pathway enables an eligible person to complete community work or a social-development activity instead of paying all or part of an eligible infringement. Activities can include unpaid work, education and life-skills courses, financial or other counselling, mental health or family-violence counselling, physical or mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment and mentoring.
Current Access Canberra consumer wording often says 'work or development plan', while provider material and approved-provider lists also use Work and Development Program. Use both terms naturally so users recognise the pathway without suggesting two separate schemes.
Who may qualify
A person may be considered when one or more of the following pathways applies. This is orientation only; the authority and approved sponsor/provider decide eligibility.
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A mental or intellectual disability, disorder or illness
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A physical disability, disease or illness
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Addiction to drugs, alcohol or another substance
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Domestic or family violence
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Homelessness or crisis/transitional/supported accommodation
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Serious financial hardship supported by evidence
How psychology may fit
Mental health treatment and counselling may be included in an approved ACT plan. An approved provider supports the application and plan. The psychologist's assessment and treatment remain clinically driven, and only the agreed information should be shared with the provider or authority after informed consent.
Program credit reduces eligible fine debt. It does not pay the psychology fee. Fees, cancellation terms and any available Medicare or private-health rebates are discussed separately and should link to Meyer Institute's canonical Fees and Rebates page.
Important limits
Coverage depends on the infringement type and issuer. The current official page includes traffic and camera infringements and eligible parking infringements, but excludes parking fines issued by the Australian National University and National Capital Authority. Approval can affect enforcement, but a demerit-point suspension is a separate matter.
How to get started
1. Check that the infringement type and issuing body fall within the ACT pathway.
2. Connect with an approved provider and gather evidence for the relevant eligibility pathway.
3. Complete the applicant/provider form and supporting documents and obtain approval before activity is relied upon.
4. Follow the approved plan and provider reporting requirements until the required credit or plan outcome is reached.
What to have ready
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Infringement notice and issuing authority
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Any licence suspension information, distinguishing non-payment from demerit points
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Approved-provider details if already connected
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Evidence relevant to the eligibility pathway
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Referral and treatment information relevant to the enquiry
Do not send identity documents, bank statements or detailed family-violence or trauma records through the website form.
For referrers
GPs, health practitioners, lawyers, community legal services, financial counsellors, caseworkers and existing sponsors/providers can use the enquiry form. Include the jurisdiction, debt stage, program status, clinical question and confirmation of client consent. Meyer Institute can discuss clinical suitability and reasonable documentation, but does not make the government eligibility decision or provide legal advice.
FAQs
Is the ACT program called a plan or a WDP?
Both terms appear in current ACT materials. The consumer page describes a work or development plan, while provider materials also use Work and Development Program.
Which ACT fines may be included?
Eligible traffic, camera and parking infringements can be considered, but coverage and issuer exclusions must be checked. ANU and National Capital Authority parking fines are excluded from the Access Canberra pathway.
Can mental health treatment be included?
Yes, it may be an approved activity when the eligibility, provider and plan requirements are met.
Can the plan lift a licence suspension?
Approval may affect a suspension related to unpaid infringements, but it does not remove a separate demerit-point suspension. Confirm the record with Access Canberra.
Can a telehealth provider be approved?
The ACT has approved-provider processes and lists that can include health providers. Confirm the provider's current approval and whether the proposed arrangement is accepted before relying on telehealth.
Does the ACT plan pay psychology fees?
No. Fine-credit participation is separate from ordinary clinical fees and possible rebates.
Make an enquiry
Use the form below and provide only enough information for routing. If an enforcement deadline is urgent, contact the official authority or a community legal service now; this enquiry does not pause enforcement.
Scope and urgent help
Access Canberra / Infringement Review Office decides whether a person and debt qualify, approves the relevant arrangement and controls fine records. Meyer Institute provides psychological services within professional scope and only claims sponsor/provider status that has been formally confirmed. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Call 000 for immediate danger. For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Meyer Institute is not an emergency service.
Information checked 15 September 2026.