List of Neighbours characters introduced in 1997

Lisa Elliot, played by Kate Straub, made her first screen appearance on 27 January 1997. Straub was cast after being spotted in the audience of variety television show ''Hey Hey It's Saturday''. Straub told Amanda Ruben of ''TV Week'' that she felt embarrassed by what had happened, but considered it the break she needed. She added "I was an avid fan of ''Neighbours'' when Kylie and Jason were on, but I haven't watched much since. But my short time with the show has given me a huge appreciation of the television industry." Straub was initially contracted with the show until early 1997. Lisa is introduced as a new teacher at Erinsborough High. Straub said it was "a great part to have". Jason Herbison of ''Inside Soap'' noted that at 21, Straub was barely old enough to have achieved a teaching qualification in real life. Producers decided not to renew Straub's contract, and Herbison reported that her lack of training contributed to their decision.

Lisa moves to Erinsborough after she gets a job as a science teacher at the local high school. When Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) learns Lisa needs somewhere to stay, she tells her the residents of Number 30 Ramsay Street are looking for a new housemate and Lisa moves in. She gets on well with sisters Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell) and Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles). Lisa is the target of several pranks by her students, including boot polish on her bike seat. Lisa and Sarah compete for the same man, and fall out when Lisa offers the spare room to Darren Stark (Todd MacDonald), who was involved in the breakdown of Catherine's relationship with Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair). They soon reconcile and invite Ben Atkins (Brett Cousins) to become their new housemate.

Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) persuades Lisa to coach the netball team. She becomes depressed when the team lose the final, but Sarah later diagnoses her with an over-active thyroid. Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer) becomes suspicious of Lisa's marking methods and writes an insulting sentence in his essay, which Lisa fails to notice. Billy proves that Lisa has not been reading the student's essays and Susan launches an investigation. Lisa quits her job, realising that she is not cut out for teaching. She later accepts a job in the research labs at a university in Tasmania. Before Lisa's leaving party, Ben overhears her talking about him on the phone and believes she has feelings for him. Ben kisses Lisa and she tells him that they might have had a chance of a relationship if she was not about to leave. After selling her belongings at a garage sale, Lisa says her goodbyes and leaves. Provided by Wikipedia