In making the announcement at NSW Parliament House, Mrs Mary-Louise Fowler, chair of the Bid Committee, said the theme of the Congress would be "Happy Families – Healthy Economy".
More than 3,000 participants from over 100 countries are expected to gather in Sydney in May 2013 for the seventh Congress of Families. It has been conservatively calculated that the Congress will inject six million dollars ($6,000,000) into the local economy.
"Research shows that the intact family is the best builder of social capital, providing as it does, better health, educational, and employment outcomes, and that the intact family contributes to society more than it takes," Mrs Fowler said.
"Yet for all the rhetoric we have not been able to stem the tide of family breakdown. In Australia, one quarter of our children are no longer raised by both their biological parents.
"The World Congress of Families will apply purposeful effort in finding out why families are breaking apart, and come up with real solutions, because all children deserve to grow up in a happy home with their mother and father together.
"If we can do this, we will have happier children, safer communities, and far less families in need of government assistance. Hosting the World Congress of Families in Australia could be the turning point."
Dr Pat Fagan, a Washington-based academic, and member of the World Congress of Families Management Committee was in Sydney for the announcement.
While Sydney has been chosen as the host city for the Congress, the bid was a joint venture between Australia and New Zealand. Mr Bob McCoskrie, leading family advocate from New Zealand, and a member of the Bid Committee, was also present for the announcement.