In 2008 Bianca's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was spreading rapidly.

Because the family of seven lived in Yeodene, her mum was forced to drive the 77 kilometres to Geelong every weekday for six weeks for radiation therapy. After that, it was a once a fortnight trip for chemotherapy.

Having taken days to recover from each round, Bianca watched as her mum struggled to fight the illness.

"From about day four, she would be in a lot of pain up until about day 11 when she would get better, then she would have to go in for another round and it started again," Bianca said.

In August 2009, Bianca's mum was in remission. It was then Bianca began to feel unwell. With what turned out to be glandular fever, Bianca struggled to get through her mid-year exams.

"I spent a week in hospital because my airways were constricting and I couldn't breathe properly," she said.

After recovering , she was distressed to find it had come back again during her October examination period. After overcoming that hurdle, Bianca decided to forgo a gap year.

"I didn't want to go into hospital this time, I just wanted to finish school," she said.

"I considered having a gap year but I was afraid I would lose motivation if I did."

Bianca was accepted into a Bachelor of Psychology in 2009 at Deakin University Warrnambool campus but the cost of moving away and funding her studies was a much greater issue.

Given her mother's health battle and the cost of putting her four siblings through school, funds were scarce for a uni education.

"We really didn't know how it was all going to work. It was looking like I would have to travel home to work a lot," she said.

But thanks to a scholarship, Bianca was able to pursue her uni dream. Her residence costs are covered by the university for the duration of her three-year course.

"I came home one day and there was a letter saying that I would be receiving a scholarship for my res (residence) fees," Bianca said.

Without this scholarship, Bianca felt that she would be struggling to survive.

"I would pretty much be working and relying on Centrelink all the time," She said.

Though it has been a bumpy road for the psychology student, Bianca couldn't be happier .

"It's great, I love university," she said.