Carlicia Mellick
Occupational Therapy
Carlicia has had 10 years experience working as an Occupational Therapist in both the community and hospital settings. The majority of her experience has been in the community setting as she realises that people perform best when in their own environment.
Carlicia has worked with all the different age ranges from young children to the elderly. Having previously been a schoolteacher, she commenced her OT career in the paediatric field working with children with a variety of developmental delays and physical disabilities. She now works largely with the elderly population, however, is deeply committed to working with people with vascular disorders, oedema and lymphoedema.
Carlicia is a level 1 trained Lymphoedema therapist and has worked in both the hospital and community treating people with lymphoedema. Carlicia is both passionate and hardworking and loves engaging with all different types of people. She is a strong advocate for the elderly and people with disabilities and always ensures a person is well supported in striving to achieve their goals.
Dana
Allied Health Assistant
Dana has been with Function Plus Therapy as an allied health assistant for 3+ years, recently taking on the role of Practice Manager. Dana has a passion for assisting people in the community to live their lives to their fullest potential. Dana enjoys every aspect of her roles, particularly seeing clients thrive and reach their goals. Dana’s approach is based on the individuals’ daily needs and is able to adapt her programs accordingly. Dana is very organised and aims to deliver her therapies in a timely professional manner.
Lorna
Occupational Therapist
Lorna Cross – Occupational Therapist
Lorna Cross brings a unique and compassionate perspective to her work as an occupational therapist. Her journey into occupational therapy was inspired while working in human resources, where she advocated for and adapted the workplace to support a young man with a brain injury. This pivotal experience sparked a passion for enabling individuals to participate in meaningful activities, regardless of the challenges they face.
Lorna’s professional background includes nursing her mother with dementia and five years working in aged care within a lifestyle team. These experiences have shaped her empathetic and person-centred approach. Whimsical by nature, but serious about securing the right supports for her clients, Lorna combines creativity with a strong advocacy mindset to help clients reach their goals.
She takes a collaborative and strengths-based approach, working alongside clients to identify what truly matters to them—whether it’s regaining independence, adapting to life after injury or illness, or maintaining function in the face of change. Lorna is known for her adaptable problem solving and for finding tailored, practical solutions that address emotional, physical, and cognitive wellbeing.
Lorna has a special interest in home modifications and is soon to be qualified as an NDIS Complex Home Modifications Assessor. Her clinical work is guided by a deep understanding of the NDIS, with a focus on developing clear, goal-oriented reports that support access to necessary funding.
Based on the Sunshine Coast, Lorna is a long-term local with a broad range of interests outside work, including photography, DIY projects, spoiling her dogs, and a love of sport—most recently, an addiction to pickleball.
Jess
Allied Health Assistant
Jess has been an Allied Health Assistant for 15+ years. Jess commenced with Function Plus in May 2024. Jess is also a qualified Massage therapist and Tai Chi instructor.
Jess has worked in different settings from hospitals, community and aged care.
Jess has a passion for falls prevention and teaching Tai Chi for Health.
Jess enjoys helping people work towards their goals small or large. Jess is passionate about helping people to be independent and to be able to continue living at home independently.
Emily Coningham
Physiotherapy
Emily has over 15 years experience within all hospital clinical areas as well as community rehabilitation and management of chronic disease. She has extensive experience (10 years+) as a senior clinician mentoring junior physiotherapists, with seven of those years as a senior physiotherapist with Queensland Health.
She holds a Physiotherapy Honours degree gained in 2004 and has completed continued education within specialised areas of stroke, brain injury and neurological rehabilitation, lower limb prosthetic and amputee rehabilitation, vestibular rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Emily thus has experience working with people with a wide range of presentations from neurological, orthopaedic, respiratory, falls to complex presentations and needs.
Emily is proactive, passionate and has a cheerful outlook on life.