A former palliative care nurse from Far North Queensland has been sentenced to two years in prison after committing a shocking breach of trust by defrauding a dying patient of nearly $23,000 and stealing heirlooms from her home.
Melissa Joy Anderlini, 43, a mother of four and former nurse in Gordonvale, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to multiple charges, including fraud, theft, and unlawfully obtaining another person’s identity information. Her crimes, described by prosecutors as “calculated and extreme,” targeted two elderly patients in her care, both of whom were in the final stages of their lives.
The court heard that in May 2023, Anderlini broke into the home of a 73-year-old woman receiving palliative care, stealing family heirlooms such as a silver trophy and a cherished sailing ship collection. She also used the woman’s identity information to open a fraudulent bank account in her name, into which she redirected the woman’s pension payments. Over the following months, she withdrew nearly $23,000 and made purchases worth over $5,800 from retail stores.
Adding to the distress of the victim’s family, Anderlini’s fraudulent activity was only uncovered shortly before the woman’s passing. Her daughter was left with the devastating task of explaining the crimes to her mother and obtaining her signature to close the fraudulent account in her final days.
The nurse’s first known victim was an 84-year-old man in palliative care, from whom she stole a mobile phone in April 2023. His son raised concerns after his father’s death, which eventually contributed to Anderlini’s exposure.
Defence solicitor Ken Cuthbertson told the court that Anderlini had worked as a nurse for more than a decade but suffered a severe personal decline after 2018. He detailed a series of personal tragedies, including the loss of both her parents within six months, the breakdown of a 23-year relationship, and an ensuing descent into drug use and gambling.
However, Magistrate Terence Browne was unswayed by her personal circumstances, describing her offences as “sophisticated” rather than opportunistic. The magistrate emphasised the lasting trauma inflicted on the victims’ families, particularly the daughter who struggled to inform her dying mother of the deception.
To date, none of the stolen money has been recovered, and the family heirlooms remain unaccounted for. Anderlini claimed that she was living in a house associated with drug activity at the time, making it impossible to trace the stolen items.
Throughout the sentencing, Anderlini wept in court, expressing shame and regret for her actions. Her solicitor stated that she had previously taken great pride in her nursing career and acknowledged the profound breach of trust her crimes represented.
Anderlini will be eligible for parole on 3 August 2025.
I’m sorry but there’s no excuse, I work in Aged care as an AIN. I have never accepted or even thought of stealing from a resident. In 2024 I lost 3 precious family members, my mum at the end of Jan, my BIL who was more of a brother to me than my own flesh & blood in March and my dearest sister in May. That’s a lot of emotional stress (I gamble too, but that’s no excuse to steal becsuse of my emotional state), I’ve been through so much, losing our business and the list goes on. BUT I’ve never ever thought of stealing throughout my awful year/s. There is NO EXCUSE, you’ve done the crime now you do the time. I hope she loses her registration and stays away from our most vulnerable folk…
I am the daughter of the victim and I am glad this has finally been made public.
I am disgusted at this woman and her breach of trust.
I am extremely disappointed that she is eligible for parole a week before the anniversary of Mums passing, hopefully she is denied.
There’s no excuse for stealing from dying people who are at their most vulnerable.
The aged care crimes really need to be addressed Australia wide – they helped to build this country and deserve better.