Three aid groups have called on the government to take in 30,000 Syrian refugees.
In an advertisement in The Australian newspaper on Tuesday, Oxfam, World Vision and Save the Children say the government must urgently increase Australia's humanitarian intake in response to the global refugee crisis.
The figure is substantially more than what others have called for - churches are pushing for 10,000 while the Greens want 20,000.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the government will increase the intake of Syrian refugees, although it won't increase the overall 13,750 humanitarian places for this year.
Oxfam Australia executive director Pam Anders said compassion for Syrian refugees must not come at the expense of those fleeing violence and persecution in other countries.
"Australia can, and must, do more," she said in a statement. "No single country can solve the global refugee crisis, but as one of the world's richest countries, Australia has a moral obligation to act, and to act now."
World Vision chief executive Tim Costello said the image of the Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi who died at sea last week had touched many.
"But Aylan is just one of the millions of Syrians who have been forced to flee their homes," he said in a statement.
"They, as well as refugees from other countries, will continue to embark on perilous journeys as long as they face the daily threat of being abused, tortured or killed."
Save The Children chief executive Paul Ronalds said the government must increase the overall humanitarian intake rather than reshuffling the current allocation.
"Australia must also increase its humanitarian aid for Syria and neighbouring countries and increase diplomatic efforts towards securing a sustainable and inclusive peace agreement to the conflict in Syria," he said in a statement.
"Not only is this the right thing to do, it is also in our national interest to help solve what is clearly a global crisis."
