Jackie attended the National Theatre Drama School and graduated in 1980.

Woodburne is best known for two long-running soap opera roles. The first was Julie “Chook” Egbert in Prisoner, a role she played from 1985 to 1986. This was followed by the role of Susan Kennedy in Neighbours, a role she has played since 1994.

In 2005, she was nominated for the Best Female Performance in a Soap Opera award at the international Rose d’Or television festival, but was beaten by actress Lesley-Anne Down.

Woodburne appeared in a documentary special celebrating Neighbours’ 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.