The New Zealand-trained doctor recently relocated to Orange to take up a long term position at the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service.

The service hopes Dr Bailey’s appointment will increase the uptake of health care services among male members of Orange’s indigenous community.

“There hasn’t been a long term male doctor here for a while so hopefully that might improve the uptake of the service with men,” Dr Bailey said.

Dr Bailey developed an interest in indigenous health care while he was working at Alice Springs hospital in 2005.

“I became more aware of the gap in health in 2005 and wanted to join a team that was working towards closing that gap,” he said.

The service has also appointed registrar Ravi Vallabhaneni from Bathurst for the next six months.

“This is one area of medicine I wanted to explore more and I feel comfortable here already,” Dr Vallabhaneni said.