ANNA BRAYSHAW
Anna Brayshaw is a provisional psychologist and brings over 20 years of experience in education to her work helping young people feel connected, capable, and genuinely seen. As Director of The Long Paddock at Okeview, she leads a farm-based wellbeing program built on the simple but powerful belief that young people thrive when they are given space to breathe, purpose to engage with, and relationships they can trust. Through animals, open paddocks, and meaningful hands-on work, Anna creates opportunities for young people to rediscover their strengths, build confidence, and experience the grounding impact of nature and community.
Anna’s approach is shaped as much by her professional background as by her own upbringing in a rural community, where people showed up for each other and contribution was a way of life. These early experiences, along with the strong social conscience instilled by her family, continue to guide her commitment to integrity, compassion, generosity, and authenticity. At the heart of her work is a belief central to The Long Paddock’s mission: that every young person deserves a place where they feel they belong; where they are valued, supported, and given real opportunities to grow.
Outside her work with young people, Anna is an active and familiar presence in her local community. She coaches sports, volunteers, and serves on committees, offering her time and energy wherever it’s needed. Her steady involvement reflects not only her personal values but the ethos of The Long Paddock itself- that strong, healthy communities are built through connection, contribution, and genuine care for one another.
Darren Crowther
Darren Crowther — Youth Mentor & Facilities Manager
Darren brings enthusiasm, practical wisdom and a genuine care for young people to The Long Paddock at Okeview. With a natural ability to build rapport, he creates a sense of connection and purpose for the students he supports.
After moving with his family from Perth to Scone in 2010, Darren became deeply involved in the local community. He coached multiple junior sporting teams and served as President of Scone Junior Cricket for seven years, during which the club was awarded NSW Country Cricket Club of the Year. His long-standing commitment to community volunteering reflects his belief in teamwork, resilience and the confidence gained through shared achievement.
During his decade working at Scone Grammar School, Darren strengthened his passion for mentoring young people. He supported students on camps, excursions and Duke of Edinburgh adventures, guiding them through practical and emotional challenges. Known for his open-door approach, Darren offered students a safe space to decompress, regroup and reconnect. Through this work, he saw firsthand that some young people thrive when given alternatives to the traditional classroom. That these alternative spaces allow them to reset, build trust and learn through doing.
Darren’s diverse background, from hands-on trades and small business to managing school facilities, gives him a wide-ranging skill set that aligns naturally with farm-based wellbeing. He values practical skills, daily responsibility and time outdoors as powerful tools for building self-worth.
At The Long Paddock at Okeview, Darren combines mentorship with meaningful farm work to help students develop confidence, belonging and real-world capability.