A TEAM from the Sydney headquarters of St Vincent de Paul were in Coonamble last week as they get a process underway that will set the future direction of the Castlereagh Industries enterprise, which provides employment for people with disabilities.

The Director of Disability and Inclusion Terina Stibbard, along with Manager of Castlereagh region Jessica Davidson, SVDP President Neil Rabbett and Phil Donnan, regional Manager of volunteers worked with local staff and spoke to Coonamble Shire Council at their monthly meeting.

Ms Stibbard explained that significant changes were afoot in the wake of recent government inquiries and St Vincent de Paul was looking to the future of their supported employment programs.

As well as operating 240 retail stores around the country, which amounts to "more than Woolworths", Vinnies also operated three supported employment enterprises.

As part of the changes, there is now only one - Castlereagh Industries in Coonamble - which provides employment for 23 people..

The two Sydney enterprises which employed a total of 82 participants are now being dismantled in favour of initiatives that foster the integration of disabled people into the wider workforce.

"The Vinnies Board decided that they are committed to Coonamble but it needs to change," Ms Stibbard told the Coonamble council. "We don't know what it needs to look like but it needs to look different."

The Vinnes team after meeting with Coonamble Shire Council: Terina Stibbard, Jessica Davidson, Neil Rabbett and Phil Donnan.

"We want to contribute to the economic growth and development of Coonamble shire," she said. "It is important to come up with businesses that benefit the town."

"Coonamble is our priority at the moment."

Castlereagh Industries was closed on Wednesday 12 October while Ms Stibbard and her team worked with staff to do some "blue sky thinking" about what would work for the enterprise.

"We need something scalable, where people can keep learning and that contributes to the town," she said.

"We want to work with Council and the community."

The Castlereagh Industries participants enjoyed a day at the local disability services expo. PHOTO SUPPLIED.

The team will return in coming weeks to speak further with Council and to hear from community members who would like to have input or get involved.