Being the only other person in the house when her mother, Natalie Skretowicz, had passed out in July 2008, Kaila Roberts followed instructions from a 000 operator.

Ms Skretowicz had hit her head on the concrete floor in the kitchen and was later taken to Maroondah Hospital where she was kept overnight.

"I was cooking dinner and next thing I really remember is waking up with two police officers, two ambulance people, Kaila's two uncles and our neighbour.

"She did so well in lifting my head, getting and wetting the towel. Usually when there is blood and gore on the TV she doesn't like it.

Kaila, who was five at the time, was in her bedroom when she heard a noise and went to see what was wrong, finding her mother unconscious on the floor.

Her father, Rex Roberts, said he went cold when Kaila told him what happened. "I knew I was 30 minutes away because of work but I called my brother and neighbour to get over to the house as quickly as possible.

"But by the time they got there the emergency services were already there."

Natalie regained consciousness during the call but Kaila followed instructions over the phone until the emergency services arrived.

Mr Roberts described the scene of seeing his wife when he got home as 'like she had been in a car accident.'

"She was sat down in a chair, blood all over her hair - it looked like she had been in a car accident or been badly beaten. For Kaila to see that and keep her head is a pretty good effort by anyone's standards."

Kaila said she had been taught about 000 when she was younger.

"I always remembered to only use the number in an emergency, it was pretty scary seeing my mum like that and being on my own. I told my classmates what to do if it ever happened to them at a show and tell at school and they all gave me a big clap."

Her award was presented last week by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Bob Cameron.