Before we dive into this week’s emotional and explosive spoilers, make sure to hit that like button and subscribe for more dramatic updates from Summer Bay. Now, let’s get into it —

because next week’s episodes will have fans on the edge of their seats as Jo’s painful journey to uncover the truth about her mother’s tragic death takes a shocking turn.

It’s been two years since the devastating crash that claimed the life of Christina, and her family has never been the same. Daughter Jo was behind the wheel that night, but she’s lived

with a haunting gap in her memory ever since. No one ever discovered what caused the accident, and despite a thorough police investigation, answers were never found. The uncertainty tore the family apart — with Jo’s sister Lacy walking away from home, convinced their father, police officer David, had used his influence to protect Jo.

But time and distance have a way of softening even the deepest wounds. Six months after fate brought them all back together in Summer Bay, David finally found the courage to open the police file he’d avoided for years. As he combed through the reports, something didn’t add up — the record of the emergency call made on the night of the crash was missing. When David requested the audio, he was stunned to hear his own daughter’s panicked voice. Jo had made the call herself, something she had absolutely no recollection of.

The revelation shattered them both. Jo was shaken by the realization that she’d been conscious enough to call for help, while Lacy — for the first time — began to understand how deeply scarred her sister and father still were. David pushed further, secretly obtaining Jo’s pathology results from that night, which confirmed she hadn’t been under the influence. Yet even after reexamining every piece of evidence, the truth remained buried.

Frustrated and desperate for closure, Jo makes a bold decision — she’ll undergo hypnotherapy in hopes of unlocking her lost memories. Next week, she arrives at the police station with lunch for David, but her real purpose isn’t the food. With a trembling voice, she reveals her plan: “I’m going to try hypnosis, Dad. I need to know what really happened that night.”

David is instantly worried. He’s terrified of what resurfacing memories might do to her emotionally, but Jo stands firm. “I can’t live with these unanswered questions anymore,” she says, her determination fierce. Later, when they run into Bri, David seeks her advice. Bri warns that hypnosis can be intense — especially when trauma is involved — but she doesn’t dismiss the idea. Seeing Jo’s resolve, she agrees to help by connecting her with a trusted specialist.

That evening, Jo discusses her plan with Tane, who immediately understands her need for answers. “If it were my family,” he tells her, “I’d do the same thing.” Encouraged by his support, Jo heads back to David and insists there’s no turning back. She’s tired of panic attacks, guilt, and her sister’s resentment. She wants peace — for herself, for David, and for the memory of her mother.

The next morning, Jo reveals over breakfast that she’s already booked her session — that very day. Expecting resistance, she’s surprised when David doesn’t stop her. Instead, he insists the session take place at the police station, where he can stay close in case anything goes wrong.

Later, hypnotherapist Amelia O’Connell arrives and immediately picks up on David’s protectiveness. Calm and professional, she reassures him that Jo will remain in full control throughout the process. The room grows silent as Amelia begins, gently grounding Jo in a safe childhood memory — swinging in her garden, laughter echoing in the sun. Slowly, she guides Jo toward the darkness — the memory she’s locked away for two years.

Then, it happens.

Jo’s breathing becomes shallow. Her voice trembles as fragments of that night flood back. Headlights. Tires screeching. The blinding glare of another car speeding straight toward them on the wrong side of the road. Her eyes snap open, and she gasps, “It was a grey Mercedes… the plate — C and M!”

The revelation hits like a thunderclap. Jo bursts into tears, trembling as the enormity of the truth sinks in. David rushes to her side, his face pale with shock. After all this time, the possibility that Christina’s death wasn’t Jo’s fault changes everything. Amelia gently assures them that Jo’s done remarkably well and that they’ve made real progress.

Jo, still shaken, wants to go back under, desperate to see more — but Amelia insists she rest. “You’ve done enough for today,” she says softly. For the first time in years, Jo feels a flicker of relief. She’s been carrying guilt that was never hers to bear.

As father and daughter embrace, David promises her he’ll take it from here. The moment Jo leaves, he springs into action, ordering an officer to start running plate combinations immediately. When Cash returns from his time away, he walks straight into the chaos. David, overwhelmed, barks out orders before quickly regaining composure and explaining: “Jo remembered another car — whoever was behind that wheel caused the crash.”

Later, Lacy returns from a trip with Theo and thanks her father for reopening the case, telling him she’s finally ready to move on. David stays silent about Jo’s breakthrough, hoping to protect the fragile peace between his daughters. But peace never lasts long in Summer Bay.

When Cash casually mentions Jo’s hypnosis session to Lacy, assuming she already knew, Lacy’s fury ignites instantly. She’s convinced David has once again hidden evidence to protect Jo. Her trust, barely rebuilt, crumbles in seconds. She storms to confront him, accusing him of deceit and favoritism all over again.

Now, with Lacy’s anger threatening to unravel the family once more and Jo’s fragile hope hanging by a thread, David must act fast. But with only a partial clue — “C and M” — and a flood of new emotions tearing through the family, can he really find justice before everything falls apart again?

Next week on Home and Away, long-buried secrets rise to the surface, leaving the Stewart family reeling and the community of Summer Bay holding its breath. Jo’s hypnotic breakthrough might be the beginning of justice — or the spark that reignites years of family pain.