After the death of her mother, her father struggled to cope and Gemma was sent to stay with relatives in Brisbane, before moving in with her aunt Madge and her husband Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) in Erinsborough. On her arrival, Gemma is reluctant to commit to a relationship, as she has recently broken up with Aidan. She briefly dates Ryan McLachlan before getting together with Matt Robinson. Gemma and Matt are involved in an accident when he takes her for a ride on his new motorbike. They are rushed to hospital and Gemma nearly loses a leg due to the severity of the injury. Gemma forgives Matt, but they break up after Aidan visits, sparking Matt's jealousy. Gemma then has a brief romance with Glen Donnelly, before she falls for student doctor Adam Willis.