Cassandra "Cassie" Turner is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Sharni Vinson.

She is portrayed as "fiercely independent and headstrong" female who has a knack for "winning friends and influencing people".

Cassie is given a foster family when Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) and Flynn Saunders (Joel McIlroy) take her into their home.

Cassie was later involved in a storyline where she contracts HIV, and Vinson visited women with the virus as part of the research process.

[3][4] In 2006, rival channel Network Ten tried to tempt Vinson into joining pop group Girlband, however she decided to stay in Home and Away.

[5] In July 2007, media outlets reported that Vinson wanted to quit the serial in order to pursue other projects in Los Angeles.

She may have more energy than a legion of Duracell bunnies and be a natural when it comes to making friends and influencing people, but Cassie has a wild and wanton streak.

After many problems in her childhood she was forced to live with her grandmother, Joy (Elaine Lee) after her mother abandoned her.

[1] In 2005, the characters of Cassie, Martha and Matilda Hunter (Indiana Evans) were used by the Seven Network to promote their clothing range.

[12] The publication also felt that there was nothing Ric Dalby (Mark Furze) could do to help Cassie, because she herself would not admit the truth.

[15] Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) tries to help Cassie, but she proves "stubborn" and decides to leave with Macca.

[16] Cassie was later involved in a notable storyline in which she contracts HIV from Henk Van Patten (Damian De Montemas).

Vinson was initially worried about the serial's early timeslot on the Seven Network, coupled with the "intense" nature of the storyline.

[17] When the storyline was screened, Vinson explained that Cassie is "in love, engaged and expecting a baby" so she thinks her life "couldn't be more fantastic".

When Cassie discovers she is HIV positive, she feels as though she has hit "the bottom of the barrel" and knows that "her life's changed forever".

Their sexual tension becomes too much, but when it came to sleeping together, Cassie has flashbacks of her uncle Ben (Craig Elliot) abuse and subsequently breaks up with Ric.

When Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) arrives in Summer Bay, she feels threatened by her friendship with Ric and dumps him.

After more arguments Macca hits Cassie and she decides to forgive him, but reconciles with Ric after he dumps Belle.

Ric attends a mechanical course in the city, while Macca returns claiming to have overcome his anger issues.

When Ric finds out she has cheated, Cassie decides to move out of her home despite Sally telling her that she does not want her to go and stay with Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger).

Brad Armstrong (Chris Sadrinna) helps her set the charity up and Dan Baker (Tim Campbell) acts as a counsellor.

Cassie wins Lily's trust and discovers she is being domestically abused by her boyfriend Kyle Sanders (Anthony Gee).

Cassie goes to visit Lily, but Kyle turns violent, prompting Sally and Brad to save them.

Jazz Curtis (Rachel Gordon) ruins their relationship when she lies to Cassie, claiming that she has been sleeping with Jules.

Cassie feels her baby kick for the first time and waves goodbye to the town's residents as she leaves for her new life.

For her portrayal of Cassie, Vinson was nominated in the category of "Most Popular New Female Talent" at the 2006 Logie Awards.

[17] The Birmingham Mail chose the moment that Cassie realised Jules fancied her as their "pick of the day".

[20] A columnist for the Sunday Mirror said that Cassie "set pulses racing" and branded her a "sexy soap siren".

[21] They also opined that Vinson herself was a "sexy Home & Away starlet" and that her departure was "bad news" and "disappointing" for men who watch the serial.

While they acknowledged that she is a "well-meaning teen", they felt that by going to such lengths to save one caller in-turn endangered "the future" of the helpline charity.