Cara Varian

Chief Executive Officer of NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS)

Cara is the Chief Executive Officer of NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) and a strong advocate for equity, opportunity and dignity for all. She is also the Executive Chairperson of the Harding Miller Education Foundation, which is a national charity that provides scholarships to Australian public high school girls who have high academic potential and are experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. Prior to joining NCOSS, Cara worked across the not-for-profit, public service, political and corporate sectors. She was named in the 2021 Impact 25, which recognises the most influential people in the Australian social sector and was a finalist for the NSW Premier's Woman of Excellence Award in 2024.

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The Mirrung school wellbeing hub – meeting complex community needs to improve student outcomes

Aug 13,2025

For some students and families, barriers related to health, wellbeing and social services can significantly hinder their access to learning. Creating a school hub is one solution. In today’s article we find out more about the Mirrung Program at Ashcroft Public School – a bespoke model that’s meeting community needs and having positive impacts for everyone involved.

student welfare, student wellbeing, attendance, equal education, partnerships in education, philanthropic foundations, school-community partnerships, long reads

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