Palliative care nurse, Melissa Joy Anderlini, 43, jailed for calculated and extreme fraud against patients, 73 and 84

A Far North Queensland palliative care nurse has been sentenced for defrauding a dying patient, 73, of almost $23,000.

Melissa Joy Anderlini, 43, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to five charges of defrauding and stealing from elderly palliative care patients. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Far North Queensland palliative care nurse has been sentenced to two years jail for defrauding a dying patient, 73, of almost $23,000, taking family heirlooms from her home, and stealing another patient’s mobile phone.

Melissa Joy Anderlini, 43, a mother of four, and former Gordonvale nurse pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to five charges of entering a dwelling to commit an offence, stealing by a public servant, fraud, and two counts of obtaining another’s identification information to commit an offence.

Police prosecutor Hoara Melita told the court Anderlini broke into the home of one of the palliative care patients in May 2023, stealing her family heirlooms, including a silver trophy and a treasured sailing ship collection, and making copies of her identity information, including her driver’s licence and Customer Reference Number.

Anderlini used the identity information to create a bank account in the woman’s name, into which Anderlini channeled the woman’s pension.

She also used more than $5800 of the woman’s money to buy things from stores such as Myer, the court was told.

In a victim impact statement tendered to the court, the woman’s daughter described the heartbreaking situation of having to obtain her mother’s signature in her dying days to close the fraudulent bank account, and explain to her mother the crimes that had been committed against her.

Ms Melita described the crimes as “morally, professionally and ethically” wrong, and an extreme breach of trust, committed against elderly, vulnerable people with a “life limiting” status.

The court was told Anderlini’s first victim was an 84-year-old man, also a palliative care patient; she stole his mobile phone in April 2023.

Melissa Joy Anderlini, 43, was sentenced to two years jail for defrauding a dying patient of more than $23,000. Picture: Brendan Radke

His son raised concerns after his father died, the court was told.

A month later, Anderlini began the “calculated and sustained fraud” against the woman, 73, which stretched over three months from May to August 2023, and included 59 fraudulent transactions totalling $22,499.

Defence Solicitor Ken Cuthbertson told the court Anderlini studied to become a nurse in 2011, and had worked for more than 10 years in Gordonvale in palliative care. He said she led a crime-free life until her life began to “unravel” in 2018.

He said both Anderlini’s parents died within six months of one another, her 23-year relationship broke down, and she began an unhealthy new relationship, in which she turned to meth and gambling.

Magistrate Terence Browne sentenced Anderlini to two years jail with a parole release date of August 3, 2025, describing the fraud as “sophisticated” rather than opportunistic.

“Your offending had a very upsetting effect … the daughter of the woman whose money was taken described in her victim impact statement how it took days before was able to bring herself to get her mother’s signature, because she didn’t want her mother to find out about these crimes.” Mr Browne said.

“None of the money has been able to be paid back and the family heirlooms were not returned.”

Mr Cuthbertson told the court Anderlini was not able to account for the heirlooms’ whereabouts as she had been living in a house with drug activity and lots of people coming and going at the time.

He said the crimes were committed against a background of methamphetamine use and Anderlini’s traumatic recent past.

Anderlini cried throughout her sentencing.

“She is ashamed of these charges and of her conduct … she took great pride in her role and realises it is a breach of trust,” Mr Cuthbertson said.

Originally published as Palliative care nurse, Melissa Joy Anderlini, 43, jailed for calculated and extreme fraud against patients, 73 and 84