A Canberra public servant was motivated by "personal greed" when she stole $37,000 of taxpayers' money, a judge says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Justice John Burns said Michelle Victoria Jane Russell's fraud had been "calculated and took full advantage of the trust placed in you by your employer".
"The offences were "deliberate and planned" and "displayed a significant level of deception".
The judge on Friday sentenced Russell, 41, of Narrabundah, to 17 months' jail, to be served in weekend detention for seven months, with the remainder suspended upon entering a good behaviour order with a cash recognisance.
She previously pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges for a period between February 2011 and October 2012.
The court has previously heard Russell, also known as Michelle Hugill, had cost taxpayers more than $37,000 through a series of fraudulent credit-card transactions, false claims during a short stint at the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, fake personal leave, and deceptively receiving Centrelink payments.
During a two-month contract with the Department of Human Services, Russell told her boss she needed time off work to recover from a miscarriage and stillbirth.
Instead, used the time and her work-issued credit card to enjoy an extravagant week-long trip to Queensland.
Court papers said Russell used taxpayer funds to pay for airfares, a limousine, accommodation, a jet-boat ride, skydiving, meals, sunglasses, clothing, handbags, and pampering.
A DVD of the skydive jump was seized by police as evidence during a raid of her home in September 2013.
Russell also billed the DHS for a hire car that she kept for three months, only returning it two weeks after her employment ceased.
Court documents also revealed she had used the credit card to pay for accommodation and hire during a ski trip, groceries, room service on a work trip, and visits to the hair salon.
On another occasion, she faked her landlord's signature to have a $2200 rental bond returned and left the property with $3330 in unpaid rent.
The court on Friday heard Russell had been assessed as medium risk of reoffending.
But Justice Burns said the prospects remained guarded, as Russell had failed to comply with court orders in the past and to engage with rehabilitation services.
After handing down the sentence, the judge warned the offender she had come very close to serving a lengthy term behind bars.
Justice Burns warned her to expect to go to jail if she did not comply with his sentence.