Dr Bartley graduated from the University of Queensland in 1992. Following training at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, he successfully obtained fellowship with the College of Physicians in the area of Infectious Disease following.

Dr Bartley then joined the Royal College of Pathologists and began further education in Microbiology at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and QML Pathology. In 2001, he was awarded the Gus Nossal NHMRC Medical Post Graduate Scholarship to fund his PhD at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in molecular parasitology. Four years later he was awarded a PhD and in the same year obtained his fellowship with the College of Pathologists. Dr Bartley began working at QML Pathology in 2003, practicing in all areas of clinical infectious disease and as a Consultant Microbiologist.

His special interests are in infections in immunocompromised hosts, infections in returned travellers, nosocomial infections and molecular microbiology.