The parents of imprisoned Australian journalist Peter Greste have paid tribute to their “strong” son.

Juris and Lois Greste told a Sydney media conference on Tuesday that Peter was forced to live in a hot, dirty and cramped Egyptian cell alongside five other prisoners, but was doing “incredibly well” under the circumstances.

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He and fellow al-Jazeera colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy received lengthy jail terms after being convicted in June on charges linked to aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Egyptian government declared a terrorist organisation following the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi.

Mohamed faces 10 years in prison while Greste and Fahmy each received seven-year sentences.

The journalists have repeatedly said they are being punished for doing their jobs.

Mr Greste said the “truly humbling” support from other journalists and members of the public around the world was a source of great strength for his 49-year-old son.

An appeal hearing is set for January 1 next year, but is only the first step in what could be a very long process towards his release.

“Generally speaking, it has been very difficult to get close to the high levels of authority in Egypt,” Mr Greste told the media conference at the State Library of NSW.

“This is a case where someone’s got it terribly wrong, and that’s not only the opinion of the family – that’s the opinion of hundreds if not thousands of senior jurists around the world.”

Mr Greste sat beside another of his three sons, Mike, who said he could not wait to give his brother a “massive hug” when he was released.

The Brisbane couple said Peter was trying to make the best of the situation by carrying out a university course in international development from his cell.

-AAP