[1] Svetlanka Ristic the mother of Liljana Bishop made her debut in February, and her grandson, Luka Dokich arrived later on in September.
Ben Barrack also joined the cast as Gus Cleary in February and the following month saw a new police officer arrive in the form of Allan Steiger.
Svetlanka also discovers that Serena (Lara Sacher) was modelling for dodgy photographer Chris Cousens (Simon Mallory) to help raise money.
When news of the deaths of David, Liljana and Serena during a plane crash reaches Svetlanka, she is unable to attend the funeral as she is heavily sedated due to her grief.
Gus' inability to do his job almost causes a major oil spill and Max Hoyland (Stephen Lovatt), his supervisor, fires him.
Gus continues with his manipulation of the Hoyland family, by talking to Boyd (Kyal Marsh) about his girlfriend and buying Steph (Carla Bonner) a model motorbike.
[5] The character's role in the show increased when producers introduced his daughter Pepper Steiger (Nicky Whelan) to the main cast,[6] and he became a love interest for Janelle Timmins (Nell Feeney).
[5] Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough) clashes with Allan, shortly after he joins the police force training team.
Allan begins self-defence classes for the Erinsborough women and Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha), Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and Liljana Bishop (Marcella Russo) sign up.
Allan is promoted to Senior Sergeant and his first investigation is the Lassiter's complex fire and the murder of Gus Cleary (Ben Barrack).
Allan investigates numerous crimes in the area, including David Bishop's (Kevin Harrington) being framed for fraud.
Allan and Pepper rescue Janae Timmins (Eliza Taylor-Cotter) from Rex Colt (David Serafin), who had locked her in his office.
Pepper decides to reunite her parents and Allan is also keen to get back with his ex-wife, Christine Rodd (Trudy Hellier).
Pepper tells her father that she is being stalked and she reveals to him that she fell pregnant to her high school boyfriend and later suffered a miscarriage.
Allan suggests that the Timmins family move up north to allow Janelle to be closer to Dylan and Anne Baxter (Tessa James).
Tom was introduced as Joe Scully's (Shane Connor) younger brother and a potential love interest for Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne).
[9] Of her character's relationship with Tom, Woodburne said "They once had a very hot affair – he even left the priesthood for her – but they both felt it wasn't meant to be.
Olivia and Stuart attend a Police Ball together and when Jack loses control of his car while on the phone to her, she ends their relationship.
After Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) begins suffering from nightmares, her partner, Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), decides to send her to a psychiatrist.
Sindi Watts (Marisa Warrington) is admitted to the psychiatric ward with paranoid delusions and Jeremy tells her that her husband, Stuart Parker's (Blair McDonough), constant visits are making her condition worse.
Jeremy uses hypnotherapy to help Paul and he discovers that he started the Lassiter's complex fire and killed Gus Cleary (Ben Barrack).
Gus' sister and her boyfriend kidnap the son of Paul's girlfriend, Declan Napier (James Sorensen) and when he is released, he attends a session with Jeremy.
The following year, Jeremy diagnoses Nicola West (Imogen Bailey) with paranoia and delusions, after she tries to kill her brother in law and believes she is Miranda Parker (Nikki Coghill).
She makes her daughter, Carmella Cammeniti (Natalie Blair), return home from school in order to take over as editor of All Her magazine.
Lucia returns to Ramsay Street to deal with her daughter Rosetta's love life after she turns her back on Carmella.
Lucia tells her daughter that she will not find a man on her own and Rosetta agrees to move back home and marry Johnny.
Frazer Yeats (Ben Lawson) finds Lucia and offers to keep her updated on Rosetta's life, if she makes it worth his while.
Lucia encourages Carmella to win back the baby's father, Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin) from his girlfriend.
Lucia arranges a lunch and uses the event to remind Carmella that it would be good if the baby is born into a stable, loving relationship.
She is the mother of Dylan (Damien Bodie), Stingray (Ben Nicholas), Janae (Eliza Taylor-Cotter) and Bree Timmins (Sianoa Smit-McPhee).