Played by Kassandra Clementi.

Maddy is an energetic, responsible girl who shows a maturity beyond her 16 years. She’s routine oriented and sets very high standards for herself. She also needs structure in her life, and to stay organised - if anything goes out of kilter, Maddy’s life can become a chaotic mess.

The problem with Maddy’s perfectionist outlook is that, if she doesn’t think she can succeed at something, she won’t try it. She’s incredibly warm and accepting of everyone’s shortcomings except her own, and she’s pretty much always got one eye on what’s going on around her, like a guard dog protecting her patch. She plays it safe and she toes the line. She’s a cautious kid, a thinker.

Maddy parents are very ‘working class’ and as one of four siblings, Maddy has had to work for everything she’s ever had. But owing to her gift for music – particularly the violin – she received a full scholarship to a prestigious private school. She is a well-liked and respected kid at school. The cool kids, the hot boys, the nerds, the teachers… everyone knows and trusts her. She doesn’t play games or spread gossip and is fiercely loyal to both her friends and family.

So it’s surprising that someone like Maddy would turn her back on everything and everyone in favour of running away and it’s even more surprising that it was her idea.

When Maddy and Spencer arrive in Summer Bay, they’ve been on the run for a little while, the possessions they left home with have been stolen and the money they had has long been spent. Consequently, they are forced to beg, borrow and steal to survive.