Natalie Davison, played by
Catherine Mack, made her first appearance on 16 May 2012. The character and casting was announced on 6 May 2012. A writer for
Channel 5 said she would "have her work cut out for her" due to the amount of teen drama in Summer Bay. Mack described her character as having "a very selfless quality and determination to help others that I really admire." In June 2012, it was revealed Natalie would become
Darryl Braxton's (
Steve Peacocke) love interest. The actress told a
TV Week reporter "It was time for Natalie to leave the Bay, as she had some unfinished business with her family to attend to. She really needed to move forward with her life." Mack added that she had enjoyed her experience on the show and was looking forward to the future. Natalie moves into her new office at Summer Bay High and meets with Sasha Bezmel. Natalie also starts counselling sessions with Casey Braxton, who opens up to her about his father. She tells him to meet his father if he wants to, but his brother, Brax, asks Natalie not to interfere in their lives. Natalie grows concerned for Casey when his father,
Danny (Andy McPhee), is released from prison. Natalie grows closer to Brax, prompting him to tell her about Danny's violent past. Natalie and Brax have a one-night stand.
Jett James' (Will McDonald) foster mother,
Gina Austin (
Sonia Todd), asks Natalie to counsel him after his biological father rejects him. However, Natalie realises that she cannot counsel Jett without his full co-operation and consent. Brax becomes worried when Casey spends more time Danny and they disappear from the Bay. He and Natalie learn that Danny is planning to rob a local bar and they go to find Casey. Shortly after getting to the bar, they hear a shot and find Casey has shot Danny. Natalie tries to help Danny, but he later dies. Natalie becomes friends with
Bianca Scott (
Lisa Gormley). Natalie and Brax notice that Casey is acting strange and they agree to put their relationship on hold to help him. Brax goes on a camping trip with Casey, who later goes missing. Brax and Natalie learn that he has been taken to the desert and they try and track him down. Natalie and Brax find Casey and he tells them about a mysterious girl named
Tamara Kingsley (Kelly Paterniti) who helped him. Natalie initially thinks Casey was hallucinating. Back home, Natalie learns that she must make a statement at Casey's court case. Natalie's testimony is considered questionable and Casey is told that he must check into a detention centre each weekend. Natalie asks
Zac MacGuire (
Charlie Clausen) to watch over Casey in prison and Brax thanks her. Brax later breaks up with Natalie. She grows closer to Zac and they start dating, however, Zac becomes annoyed with her constant dealings with the Braxtons. Natalie and Brax continue to argue and they eventually confess their love for one another, but she decides to stay with Zac. Zac later tells Natalie to choose between himself or the Braxtons and she distances herself from them. After Brax is shot by
Adam Sharpe (
Martin Lynes), Natalie becomes concerned for his welfare. Zac accuses Natalie of still being in love with Brax and she admits that he is right and that she is not over Brax. Zac and Natalie break up and Zac realizes that the reason Natalie clung to the Braxtons was due to her trying to fill a void in her life caused by her mother leaving her as a child. Zac resolves to help Natalie overcome her issues and when he discovers that Natalie's mother is still alive, Natalie then leaves the Bay to go and find her. ==Danny Braxton==