Australia (ABC News) -- A South Australian population expert says more family-friendly policies in the workplace could help the birth rate.

Professor Graeme Hugo, of Adelaide University, SAID the Australian birth rate has remained stable at 1.7 children per family but the future is uncertain.

He said research shows that many Australian women want to have more children, but have to deal with inflexible workplace policies. "The sorts of policies that are needed are those which allow women to both work and have a full family life and be able to have the number of children they actually want," he said.