The conference theme, Achieving Health, Pleasure and Respect , captures the essentials of sexual health. This meeting will be truly multidisciplinary and introduce to participating clinicians, researchers, educators, activists and policy makers to the manifold, diverse and often controversial perspectives of contemporary sexual heath. Sydney is a large city of 3 million people and is the multicultural melting-pot of the southern hemisphere and the gateway to Australia , one of the world's youngest but most beautiful and exciting countries. We look forward to joining with you to share the science of sexuality, the social events, the gastronomy of Australia and the camaraderie of both old and new friends as we experience of the 18 th World Congress of WAS, which will be the 1 st World Congress for Sexual Health .