Faced with death, the children acted in a way their mother didn't think was imaginable: one took the gun, one tackled the shooter, another hid his baby sister and her nine-year-old daughter administered life-saving first aid.

Almost three years on and four of the children will receive an Australian award for the bravery and courage they showed that night, but the physical and emotional toll of the near-deadly domestic violence attack remains.

A family of six, mother Rachael Moore and her five children, were in their Chambers Flat home, south of Brisbane, on the night of April 11, 2014, when they heard noises outside.

The five children moved to a bedroom and Miss Moore went to investigate the noise, and came face to face with her former husband, Daryl Fields, who was armed.

She ran and hid with her children behind a locked door, but he broke it down.

"I knew I was going to be shot, I could tell. So I just told them [children] to get away from me and moved as far away from them as I could and thankfully the big boys kept the little ones away," Miss Moore said.

At the time her son Jayden was 14, Cameron, 12, Kaylea, 9, Zane, 4, and Samantha, 2.

"I remember when the bullet got shot it was slow motion, I remember powder in the air, I remember watching this bullet come towards me I was ready just thinking I've got to take it, I can't move.

"And then halfway, I saw Jayden hanging off the bed and we just made eye contact and it was like a whole conversation was had there."

When the bullet hit Miss Moore, her shoulder was shattered, she fell and began to lose blood.

This was when her five little heroes sprang into action.

As Mr Fields reloaded his gun Cameron elbowed him, grabbed the gun and ran, hiding the weapon outside.

As the assault continued Jayden and Cameron, who had returned to the bedroom, grabbed hold of Mr Field's arms to prevent further assaults on their mother.

During this time four-year-old Zane escaped outside with Samantha, who he had earlier put under a bed to keep safe.

Kaylea used strength, which she now says she has no idea where it came from, and helped move her mother out the back door and began to administer first aid to her mother's severe injuries.

"I thought I was going to die," Miss Moore said.

Mr Fields pleaded guilty to several charges including attempted murder and breach of a domestic violence order. He was sentenced to 12 years jail in October last year.

Almost three years on and the family looks back - they have been homeless and living out of a car, suffering depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and Miss Moore continues to face the daily fear of having her injured arm amputated.

She has had 35 operations in less than three years.

"They think the blood supply in the bone might have died which means that either there are some big operations to either take from my leg to save that bone which would shorten my leg by an inch or [arm] amputation," Miss Moore said.

"I refuse that, I have got this far, it's been nearly three years, I've been fighting for a long time and it takes a lot out of you but I don't want to give up on it - I need my arm.

"I know a lot of people say it's just an arm, chop it off. But put yourself in those shoes with five children, I'm not giving up now. I refuse. I don't give up, my family doesn't give up."

In recognition of the children's actions to save their mother the Australian Bravery Awards, announced on Sunday, listed Jayden Caulfield and Cameron Caulfield as recipients of the Star of Courage Award.

Just six individuals will receive these awards in 2017 and the Caulfield brothers have been revealed as likely being the only siblings to ever receive this accolade and also likely the youngest.

Kaylea Caulfield and Zane Fields (Caulfield) will join 24 other Australians receiving a Bravery Medal.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove said it was only fitting that outstanding people willing to put themselves in harm's way to assist others in need were recognised through the Australian Honours system.

"These awards have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by identifying role models," he said.

"On behalf of all Australians, I thank them for their bravery. They are a source of courage, support and inspiration, and we are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them."

"I am proud of them, I think more so how they are as a family," Miss Moore said.

All children agreed receiving the letters about their respective awards was a shock, but an honour.

Jayden said he wanted to use his Star of Courage award to help other children who had experienced or are experiencing domestic violence.

"Domestic violence is such a big issue lately, especially the last couple of years, it's getting out of hand - there's not enough foundations or support, it's not viewed by the higher-ups as a big issue," he said.

"Me and my little brother Cameron we're closer now and we've got each other's backs ... I've always followed Cameron, he's like my younger brother role model."

Cameron, like his siblings Jayden and Kaylea, is a keen actor and wants to use his award to further the messages he can send with his acting career.

"It's pushed me a lot further, motivated me to go further with my acting and really put in the extra effort that it needs," he said.

Kaylea said she looked forward to receiving the award as it made her mum happy.

"It will make Mum really proud and happy to have it in her house," she said.

Miss Moore said she wanted her children to have the awards to look back on.

"I think later on it will be something they'll be really proud of and later on show their children," she said.

"Even if you guys don't think you're great - Australia does," she said.