Australia’s craziest working expenses revealed from alpaca yoga retreats to taxidermied kangaroos

From alpaca yoga retreats to psychic readings and taxidermied kangaroos, Australian office workers are footing the bill for some truly bizarre job-related expenses, and it’s costing them thousands.

New research reveals that nearly three-quarters of Aussies are spending up to $5000 annually on work-related costs, with some shelling out as much as $20,000 just to do their jobs.

The most affected sectors include financial services and IT, where out-of-pocket expenses are soaring, according to statistics from global payments platform Airwallex.

“At a time when the cost of living is already front of mind for Australians, asking employees to cover work costs upfront only adds to the pressure,” Airwallex executive Matt Patterson told The Nightly.

“From flights and client dinners to essential technology and supplies, we’re seeing workers shoulder thousands of dollars on behalf of their companies. It’s no surprise that many are turning to credit cards or dipping into savings to bridge the gap,” he added.

Delayed reimbursements are compounding the issue, with nearly half of Aussie workers saying their companies take too long to pay them back, sometimes waiting weeks or even months.

“No worker should be thousands of dollars out of pocket just to do their job, yet that’s the reality facing many Australians,” Mr Patterson added.

The report uncovered a catalogue of outlandish purchases made by employees using their own money, often under pressure from management or in the name of team building.

Craziest work expenses

Among the most jaw-dropping: a $1400 alpaca yoga session at “hipster farm” outside Noosa in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

“Accounting initially rejected (the yoga session) as non-essential until I argued it counted as stress management, which backfired when HR mandated monthly sessions,” a respondent revealed.

“The alpacas were unimpressed, my credit card wept, and I now have a permanent ‘Wellness Ambassador’ title I never wanted.”

Another worker paid $400 for a taxidermied kangaroo to hang in the office lobby to build “team morale”. It was eventually approved as “local art” for the company’s ESG report.

One employee was even asked by their boss to pay for unicycle lessons for their entire department under the guise of “team building”.

“He genuinely thought it would boost morale. I politely declined and suggested we stick to coffee runs,” they said.

Other expenses Aussies are commonly footing the bill for include flights, accommodation and stationery, but also cigarettes, Thai massages, birthday cake for a client’s dog and psychic readings.

ATO reveals wildest tax deductions

The report comes just weeks after the Australian Taxation Office revealed some of the most outrageous tax deduction attempts of 2025.

One mechanic tried to claim an air fryer, microwave, two vacuum cleaners and gaming accessories as work-related expenses, while a truck driver attempted to write off swimwear.

The ATO rejected them all.

“While some people have tried their luck with unusual work-related deduction claims, most people realise to be able to claim an expense, it needs to meet strict criteria,” ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson said in a statement.