Born in Melbourne, Campbell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of from. She later was Head of the National Women's Bureau in the Shop Distributive Association from 1974–80. She became an emergency teacher and adult migrant teacher in 1981, and joined the Australian Labor Party in 1983.
In 1989 she became an electorate officer, and from 1992 to 1995 manager of the Caroline Chisholm Society.
In 1996, Campbell was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the member for Pascoe Vale, succeeding Kelvin Thomson, who was elected to the federal seat of Wills. Campbell immediately became Shadow Minister for Family Services and Women's Affairs, and in 1999 moved to the Community Services portfolio. She lists her interests as bushwalking, cycling and bioethics.
Christine Campbell voted against what is now the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008. She remains actively opposed to abortion, arguing in favour of doctors who, contrary to the Act, fail to refer patients seeking abortions.
