Prior to her election to Parliament Jacinta was a Board Member of Community Health Bendigo and Loddon Mallee Women's Health.
In 1998 Jacinta led a local campaign by the group ‘Residents Against Nude Lap Dancing in Bendigo'. The group included people from a broad cross-section of Bendigo representing women's organisations, the union movement, church and community based organisations. This campaign was successful in halting the operation of a nude lap dancing bar in Bendigo after only one night of operation.
Jacinta has been a member of Brass Bands around Bendigo for a number of years and served as Secretary of Marist Brothers Band.
An active member of the Bendigo Labor Party, Jacinta held a number of positions within the Labor Party including:
- Member of the Bendigo South Branch since 1991
- Held executive position of Secretary
- Secretary and President of Bendigo Federal Electorate Assembly
- Delegate to Youth Conference
During her working life Jacinta has been a member of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association and the Community and Public Sector Union.