The Federal Government would consider expanding Australia's refugee intake for people fleeing war zones in Syria and Iraq, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says.

Key points: Just over half of the Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the one-off program have arrived in Australia

Just over half of the Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the one-off program have arrived in Australia Mr Dutton defends the need for security checks for new Syrian refugees

Mr Dutton defends the need for security checks for new Syrian refugees Immigration Department assessing expansion of the one-off intake over the coming months

In September last year, the Government announced it would issue an extra 12,000 humanitarian visas as a one-off measure in response to those conflicts.

As of the beginning of this month, 9,513 of those visas had been granted and 6,507 people have now arrived in Australia, according to the Immigration Department.

Mr Dutton told Australian Story the Government wanted to examine what happened over the coming months before making any decisions about expanding the program.

"If we get this program right [it allows us] to say to the Australian people that we may want to expand this program," he said.

"And if people have faith in the integrity of the process, then it does give the Government the ability to expand beyond the 12,000."

Aid agencies have criticised how long it has taken to resettle the 12,000 refugees.

Mr Dutton acknowledged the process could be "long and protracted" but defended the need for security checks.

"In some cases people are interviewed for a whole day or a series of days," he said.

"There would be many cases where we're able to tease out as much detail as possible.

"In some cases, that's not possible because the war has torn apart a village, documentation is not available. And the experts within my department make assessments in relation to each of those cases."

Madaya medic has 'compelling' case as refugee

Sorry, this video has expired Khaled Naanaa says while he is happy to be living in Perth his "heart is bleeding" for those in his homeland.

Mr Dutton said the case of Syrian nurse Khaled Naanaa, highlighted on Australian Story, was compelling.

"This is a good case to have a look at, to get a better understanding of the pressure that families are under," he said.

"Six-and-a-half million people in Syria alone are internally displaced, and horrific stories come out every day."

Mr Naanaa ran the field hospital in the rebel-held village of Madaya, providing medical care to opposition supporters, who were denied care in state-run hospitals.

When the town was besieged by the Assad Government and its ally Hezbollah in July last year, the local population began to starve. Nothing was allowed in or out, and the town quickly ran out of food and medical supplies.

When people began to die from malnourishment, Mr Naanaa raised the alarm by filming and photographing his patients, and sending the images to the media.

Sorry, this video has expired Mr Naanaa was caught up in one of the most dangerous situations in Syria.

"In relation to this particular case, it is compelling because there's video evidence," Mr Dutton said.

"He was able to make that case to our officer at the embassy in Beirut.

"It's a difficult job that the officers within my department perform but they do sit down with individuals.

"They verify the details and they make decisions from there."

Watch The Road From Damascus on Australian Story tonight at 8:00pm on ABC TV.