The charges include knowingly providing support to a terror organisation, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.

The 39-year-old man, from Coolaroo in Melbourne's north, briefly fronted Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Sunday morning.

Brookman surrendered himself to Turkish officials in Turkey last Tuesday and was arrested on Friday night when he arrived at Sydney International Airport in the company of authorities.

He was extradited from Sydney to Melbourne on Saturday evening. He was escorted from the plane into a waiting vehicle on the tarmac.

Court documents have shown that Mr Brookman, a father of five, is alleged to have undertaken guard duty and reconnaissance for Islamic State while he was in Syria.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody ahead of an expected filing hearing on Monday, the ABC reported.

The AFP's Melbourne joint counter-terrorism team also charged Mr Brookman with performing services with intention of supporting a person to engage in a hostile activity in a foreign state.

AFP counter terrorism national manager Neil Gaughan said Australians who became involved in conflict in Syria and Iraq risked being charged with serious Commonwealth offences.

"Matters such as this ultimately concern community safety and we make no apology in taking action against people who may bring a radicalised ideology, and potentially other skills, back to Australia," Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said in a statement.

"There is no evidence of a threat in Australia in this instance, and the ongoing safety of the community was the primary factor in all of the arrangements made to facilitate this individual's return to Australia."

In May, Mr Brookman told Fairfax Media he was in Syria for humanitarian reasons.

He also claimed he was innocent of any crime and had been forced to join the Islamic State.

- with Georgina Mitchell and Richard Baker