How to help with influx of refugees

Australians who want to help refugees arriving from Syria and Iraq should contact their local MP or community group to find out the best way to do so.

Australians wanting to welcome Middle East refugees down under need to do more than offer blankets and tinned peaches.

The best way people can be Good Samaritans is to get in touch with their local MP or community group to establish how they can help with settlement programs in their area, Social Services Minister Scott Morrison says.

With the first wave of 12,000 refugees from camps around Syria and Iraq likely to arrive before Christmas, the government will soon tell "Australians who have opened their hearts" how best they can help.

"We don't need blankets and tinned peaches. That's not what's going to help here," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

"We will need for people to engage in their communities in supporting people with the direction of our settlement service providers."

Mr Morrison acknowledged providers would have a tough job meeting needs.