Wanting to give back to the community that supported her, Bianca Bassett turned volunteerism into a career dedicated to improving accessibility and inclusion for people with a disability.

Speaking at Baw Baw Shire's Australia Day awards ceremony on Wednesday night, Bianca shared her inspiring story of living with a rare blood disorder, embracing community support and seizing an opportunity to become an advocate for people with a disability.
Bianca said Australia Day was a day to celebrate community spirit, the volunteers and people who come together and the selfless acts that ripple through the community.
A lifelong Lakes Entrance resident, Bianca was born in 1980 with a rare blood disease. At the time she was one of 12 people in the world to have the disease. Today she is one of 12 people in Australia living with the disease.
"My blood cells don't live long...it's kind of like living on half a tank all the time," she said.
Since she was six-weeks-old, Bianca has had blood transfusions every three to four weeks. "Blood donors give life and they were my first contact with community heroes."
While doctors predicted she would never go to school, play sport, have a career or have children, Bianca defied the odds and did it all. She said her three children were her greatest achievement.
In 2016, Bianca said a fungal infection "knocked me off my feet quite literally."
"In doctors terms I was gone - I was in a coma for three and a half weeks. My husband had to make the decision - limb or life.
"I am now an above knee amputee.
"Losing my leg was life altering. But, if it wasn't for our community rallying at the greatest time of need, I wouldn't be here.
The Lakes Entrance community cooked meals, held fundraisers and had a 24 hour roster in place to ensure Bianca's family could be driven to the hospital to see her at any time of the day.
"I am still overwhelmed. It reminded me of the power of community and what we can achieve when we come together for something.
"It didn't just inspire me, it shaped me," she said.
Wanting to give back to her community, Bianca became an active volunteer with numerous local organisations and groups, including the CFA, East Gippsland Shire Council, business associations, and various local events.
But it was volunteering at the Dylan Alcott Foundation organised Ability Fest - a music festival for people of all abilities - that changed the direction of Bianca's life.
"This one act of volunteering completely changed my life. I now work to improve accessibility and inclusion for people with a disability.
Working with Get Skilled Access, a disability inclusion consultancy founded by Dylan Alcott, Bianca's job is to break down barriers and increase inclusion.
With a strong message to the audience, Bianca said her work all started with her volunteering and connecting with her community.
"Every community act and volunteerism helps someone else and makes a difference. Never underestimate the power of a small gesture. Whether it's donating blood, helping a neighbour or volunteering at an event, you never know where it might take you and how much it might help someone in return.
"What we do in our communities is what really matters," she said.
Bianca's self-published memoir Walking My Path is an account of her experiences navigating loss, grief, and trauma, and emerging stronger, more resilient, and optimistic about the future.