ICAAP is a biennial regional conference, and is recognized as one of the most important AIDS meetings in the world. The Australian government has committed money to assist hundreds of Asia Pacific HIV/AIDS workers to attend the Congress. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is spreading rapidly in the Asia Pacific region with over 7 million people infected. Treatment and care for HIV positive people in many countries in the region is still very poor.

"It is heartening to see Australia making a concerted effort to involve people in the Asia/Pacific region," said Paul Toh, co-founder of the Asia Pacific network of HIV-positive people during AIDS awareness week in Australia. "Attending ICAAP will be a huge opportunity for them to find solutions to the most pressing issues we face."

The overall conference theme is "Breaking Down Barriers" and each meeting day has a specific sub-theme. The four cross-cutting themes will be Treatment and Care, Prevention, Socio-Economic Determinants and Gender and Sexuality. Experts from around the world will lead sessions on topics ranging from the dangers of infection to the socio-economics of HIV/AIDS.

"We were seeking a combination of different expertise and experience, which together would highlight both the lived meanings of the epidemic in Asia Pacific and underline what achievements have been made and what issues remain to be addressed," said Professor Dennis Altman, ICAAP Co-Chair, in a statement.

The Australasian Society for HIV Medicine will hold its annual conference alongside ICAAP, focusing its energies on the scientific and educational aspects of HIV/AIDS. The Third Conference of the International Association for the Study of Sex, Culture and Society will be held at the University of Melbourne from October 1 to 3, immediately prior to Sixth ICAAP. This conference explores how belief systems and institutions structure and constrain modes of living and pattern the expression of gender identity.