( CNN ) Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste , back home in Australia after spending more than a year in an Egyptian prison , said Thursday that he was never abused by his captors and looks upon the imprisonment as `` probably a more positive experience that it has been a damaging one . '' `` I 'd like to think I 've changed , perhaps for the better , '' he told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour . `` I 've learned a lot about myself , I 've grown a lot , I 've learned a lot about my family , my incredible family . '' Greste , whom Egypt released and deported over the weekend , landed in Brisbane early Thursday morning . Read his letter from Cairo cell . Greste and fellow Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were arrested in Egypt in December 2013 , accused of supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood . All three were convicted and imprisoned but have maintained their innocence . Greste , who spent about 400 days in prison , had been sentenced to seven years . Fahmy and Mohamed remain in prison . Greste said at a press conference that he 'll work to free them . `` I will do all we can to talk to the right people to facilitate their release , '' Greste said , declining to go into detail . Greste thanked the people who worked for his release -- his family , leaders of the Australian and Latvian governments , people who took part in demonstrations and journalists . He was surprised at the number of people involved . `` What we 've seen out of this is a sense of purpose and a sense of unity that has blown me away , '' he said . Greste said prison was not easy but that he and the others were not mistreated . He was able to work on a master 's degree in governmental relations and wrote his papers in pencil and paper . Mixed emotions for Al Jazeera journalist as he leaves Egyptian jail . `` We had access to all the things we needed , '' he said . `` The fact is I 'm in pretty good health . We were n't abused in any way . We were treated with respect and dignity as much as could be expected under the circumstances '' He fought off negative feelings by meditating . When his thoughts wandered , he imagined going to the beach , something he 's already done since returning to Australia . `` To actually stand there and feel ( the sand ) between your toes was awesome , '' he said . Greste said he and his colleagues talked about the possibility that one of them would be released before the others . `` They were all very happy for me , '' he said . `` You can imagine after 400 days of imprisonment with these guys we were very close . '' When they are released , Greste said , `` I will party with them very hardy indeed . '' Arriving at the airport Thursday , Greste , wearing a checkered shirt and jeans , was cheered by a crowd of dozens who had awaited his arrival . He smiled , hugged several people in the crowd and flashed peace signs with two raised hands . Greste said he 's not sure what will happen in his immediate future but expects to return to journalism . `` I do n't want to give this up , '' he said . `` I 'm a correspondent . It 's what I do . '' When his mother , Lois Greste , was asked how she felt about that , she said , `` We 've always believed our children should follow their passions and Peter 's doing that . At the same time , he 's got to know we are n't going to go through this again . '' Lister : For Egypt , Al Jazeera prisoners were PR disaster amid bigger problems .
He also finds positive meaning in his time in Egypt . ` ` It 's awesome to be home , '' he tells friends and well - wishers . The celebration is tempered by worry for his colleagues still held in Egypt , he says .