Australian woman answers door, shot in head

A 26-year-old man will appear in an Australian court after a woman was shot in the head after answering the door. Photo / Thinkstock

An Australian man has been charged with shooting a woman on the doorstep of her townhouse in NSW's Illawarra region.

The 21-year-old was shot in the head after answering a knock at her front door in Fowlers Road, Dapto about 6.20pm (8.20pm NZT) on Wednesday.

Her 27-year-old partner and four children were inside the property but weren't hurt.

The woman was flown to St George Hospital and this morning was in a critical but stable condition.

A 26-year-old man was arrested after being pulled over in a car near Oak Flats, south of Dapto, about an hour after the shooting.

He was charged with shoot with intent to murder and is due at Wollongong Local Court later today.

Police say investigations are continuing.

Residents on Fowlers Road reported hearing a loud pop around the time of the shooting.

"I was sitting in my front room and I just thought it was a car backfiring," one neighbour told the Illawarra Mercury.

Another added: "I heard a very loud clapping sound, my daughter ran into the backyard and said to me someone just got shot."

- AAP