Greste yet to learn he's won a Walkley

Jailed Australian journalist Peter Greste is yet to learn that he's won a prestigious Walkley award for journalism, his brother says.

The Al-Jazeera journalist was honoured with Australia's Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award at the Walkleys dinner on Thursday night.

Greste has been held in an Egyptian jail since his arrest in December last year.

In June, an Egyptian court convicted and jailed him, together with colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, of supporting the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and spreading false information.

Greste is appealing his seven-year jail term, with the case to be heard on January 1.

His brother Andrew Greste, who accepted the Walkley award on his behalf, told AAP his parents were excited about giving Peter the good news during their next visit in coming days.

"He knows he was nominated but he doesn't know yet that he's won," Mr Greste said.

"It may have been reported in Egypt and word may have got inside the prison but if he hasn't heard from the unofficial prison grapevine, mum and dad are over there and when they visit him next, he'll hear the good news."

But what the Greste family really want for Christmas is to have him home.

"Christmas is a special time and it's been a really tough year for our family," Mr Greste said.

"It would be awesome to have him back here for Christmas."

He said the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's recent decree allowing the deportation of foreign prisoners and his comments to reporters that he's considering pardoning his brother were encouraging.

"We know not to get carried away with rumours and statements. Peter's a strong nut and he's prepared himself for a long stay."

The family is working closely with lawyers ahead of the appeal.