A Melbourne schoolgirl whose face was disfigured after she cut herself, fainted and fell into an open fire on an army cadet camp is suing the Victorian and federal governments.

Annie Louey was a 16-year-old student when she enrolled as a member of the Melbourne High Army Cadet Unit and attended a cadet course in June 2009.

The course involved a survival exercise requiring students to prepare and cook their own meals at night without adult supervision, according to a writ filed in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday.

Ms Louey was attempting to prepare a meal when she inadvertently sliced her finger with a knife, causing her to faint and fall into an open fire, the documents state.

She had been required to cut up pumpkin with a small pocket knife and there was no supervision by employees or agents at the time, the documents said.