Mr Bell takes up the position after a background in community health including serving on the Narromine Health Council for six years where he is currently chairman and three years as the deputy chairman on the Alice Springs Hospital Board.

“The role is to advise area executives on community issues in regards to health,” he said.

“One of the things we have highlighted for significant discussion is problems with the Dubbo area health service.

“We don’t have a say on how they run the health service but we offer advice.

“The reason why I applied is because I have done a bit in Narromine, I believe the problems aren’t just local but are district-wide and I believe I could have a lot more input to fix some of the endemic problems.”

Mr Bell said he was committed to saving small communities, from Dubbo to the west, from losing any more health services.

AHAC Chairman, Dr Steve Flecknoe-Brown, welcomed Mr Bell’s appointment.

“I’m delighted that Mick will be joining the team, just at the right time,” he said.

“He’s always been there for his community and in the coming years strong community leadership will be vital to sound public administration,” he said.

A spokesperson for GWAHS said Mr Bell was also involved with Apex in NSW for a number of years and held the role of District Governor for the Explorer Country region over the last two years giving him insight into understanding the role of governance within large organisations.