Earlier this month, the federal government boosted its humanitarian intake by 12,000 places after an outcry over images of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi lying lifeless and alone on a Turkish beach.

ACT Multicultural Affairs Minister Yvette Berry said three to five families were likely to arrive in Canberra each week until June, although further planning was needed.

"At this stage it looks like we could be supporting at least 250 individuals and that would also depend on support from the federal government," she said.

The ACT has accepted close to 2000 humanitarian entrants since 1997 and 138 have been resettled so far this year.

Ms Berry said the government and community groups were working to ensure affordable housing and employment opportunities would be available for new arrivals.

"There are a lot of people who have worked in this space for a long time and have wanted to support refugees and migrants who have been coming into our city," she said.

"For the first time there are a lot more people who want to help out and we have a whole new wave of people who really want to try and make a difference."

Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Robyn Hendry said a survey of 200 Canberra businesses found that many were willing and able to support asylum seekers find employment.

"Their offers have ranged from skilled work like chefs to less skilled work like cleaning, retail outlets and security," she said.

Ms Berry said asylum seekers needed to be gradually settled into Canberra to ensure the rental market and key services could support them.

"This is about settling families successfully and sustainably, it can't just be about emergency accommodation," she said.

"I believe putting refugees into unsustainable rental accommodation, and housing stress, will only create further issues in the longer-term."

Woden Community Services director Chris Redmond said any support of refugees was a good thing.

"[However], the impact around employment and affordable housing will be quite significant," he said.

"We support people acquiring private rentals knowing the demand on public housing and we are working with the real estate industry in the ACT to assist people into affordable rentals."

Mr Redmond said there were 2000 rental properties available in Canberra and it was important to stagger the arrival of asylum seekers to limit any strain on the industry.

Companion House director Kathy Ragless had no doubt the Syrian asylum seekers would be welcomed into the Canberra community, although there were practicalities to consider

"In many ways the Canberra community is a wonderful place to resettle although there isn't the amount of affordable housing stock here as in other cities," she said.

Ms Ragless, who has been working with asylum seekers since 1993, said Canberra was one of the richest cities in a rich country and could do even more to assist Syrian refugees.

Ms Berry said the ACT government would continue to talk with federal counterparts to ensure an effective resettlement process.

"I expect issues such as affordable housing, employment pathways and language skills training will be at the centre of discussions going forward," she said.