Jenny has been a Labor Party Member of the Victorian Parliament since 1999, firstly as the Member for Jika Jika Province and since 2006, as the Member for Northern Metropolitan Region. Jenny is currently the Minister for Families and Children and Minister for Youth Affairs. Between December 2010 and November 2014, Jenny held a number of Shadow Ministerial portfolios at different times including Community Services, Youth Justice, Children, Young Adults and Seniors & Ageing. From 2007 until November 2010, Jenny was Parliamentary Secretary for Planning. From 2002 till 2007 she was Parliamentary Secretary for Justice. Jenny is a life-long resident of her electorate. She grew up in Northcote as the daughter of a migrant working class family and was educated in local schools. Jenny obtained Arts and Law degrees from the University of Melbourne. She began her involvement in politics as the youngest ever municipal Councillor elected to Northcote Council. Before being elected to Parliament, Jenny was a solicitor for a number of prominent national legal and accounting firms. Jenny is passionate about social justice, human rights and protecting our environment. Her interest in human rights is ongoing and she has been a member of Amnesty International for more than 25 years.