avieson's partner is the film producer mal watson, who made the cup and travellers & magicians, with writer/director khyentse norbu. avieson and watson have a daughter, kathryn, who was the baby in the travel book "baby in a backpack to bhutan". they live in sydney. avieson's father was the late associate professor john avieson, one of australia's first journalism academics, who authored several books, including "applied journalism in australia" and "editing australian newspapers."