A woman managed to call triple-0 after being shot in the face as she answered her own front door south of Sydney last night.

Police say the 21-year-old was shot at her terrace house in the Wollongong suburb of Dapto about 6:20pm (AEDT).

Senior Constable Ben Walsh says she was able to seek help.

"The woman has managed to contact triple-0, while her partner rendered first aid to her," he said.

"Police and New South Wales Ambulance paramedics attended the scene and the woman was airlifted to a Sydney hospital, where she remains in a critical but stable condition."

Her 27-year-old partner and four children in the house at the time were not injured.

Nearly an hour after the shooting police stopped a car at nearby Oak Flats and arrested Adam Murray.

The 26-year-old faced Wollongong Local Court this morning charged with shooting with intent to murder.

There was no application for bail and it was formally refused.

Murray will remain in custody until his next scheduled court appearance in April.

Family and friends of the man waved as he entered the courtroom.

As he left Murray's father called out: "I love you son."