Detectives attached to the Central West Police District attended Condobolin Hospital at 3am on Sunday after reports a two-year-old boy had arrived with second-degree burns to the face and back.

Police were told the boy was in the care of his mother's partner while she was working the previous evening.

She arrived home to find the boy with the 'unsettling' injuries.

The toddler was airlifted to The Children's Hospital at Wesmead were he underwent immediate surgery.

The matter has been referred to specialists detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.

Following inquiries, a 30-year-old man was arrested in Bathurst at 5pm on Sunday.

He was taken to Bathurst Police Station where he was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm and neglect of a child under his care.

He was refused bail to appear before Bathurst Local Court on Monday.