Two women sexually abused while in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are urging the Federal Government to reinstate the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (DART).

Key points: Final DART report overturned a recommendation to hold a royal commission into abuse at the force academy

Final DART report overturned a recommendation to hold a royal commission into abuse at the force academy Ex-servicewoman says she was given an inexperienced legal team during military court hearing

Ex-servicewoman says she was given an inexperienced legal team during military court hearing Barry Heffernan, who supports survivors, says people fear retribution for reporting abuse

The final report of the DART, completed five months ago, was released publicly on September 2, overturning a 2014 recommendation to hold a royal commission into abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

Two women, who spoke to the ABC on the basis their identities would not be revealed, have described how the ADF's handling of their sexual assault cases had contributed to their continued suffering.

One of the women, who served in uniform for almost a decade, said she was discharged from the military after suffering deep depression in the wake of the assault.

"That was around the first time, I think, I first attempted suicide and I was discharged shortly after that," she said.

She was devastated to have lost the career she absolutely "adored".

"I was very good at it and it was my passion in life but unfortunately I was sexually and physically abused by my superiors," she said.

The woman said the ADF failed to take action against the people who assaulted her.

"They should have conducted a serious and proper thorough investigation into my complaints and even involved the civilian police," she said.

Her mental health has improved since the assault more than a decade ago with the help of a psychologist, but the former servicewoman says she continues to suffer.

"A long time has passed and I need to get healing through the DART process and unfortunately that is not an option as it stands today."

The ex-servicewoman said she was angry she was not referred to the DART before it stopped taking submissions about allegations of abuse in 2013.

"The DART process was supposed to be an opportunity for people like me who had suffered abuse in their careers to be heard and healed. I didn't find out about DART until 2015," she said.

The DART was set up in 2012 in the wake of the 2011 DLA Piper review sparked by the Skype scandal at the ADFA.

"What DART would have been able to give me is the opportunity for some support for my complaint," the woman said.

"I could have had the opportunity to be part of a reparation scheme [financial payments].

"I could have had a criminal investigation done on behalf of DART and administrative or disciplinary action could have been taken by the ADF for the perpetrators who are still employed by the Australian Defence Force."

'System failed me'

Another woman, who was in the Army for four years, said her sexual assault case could not be referred to the DART because it happened after 2011.

Her case was instead dealt with by a military court where the charges against the perpetrator were downgraded.

"The system failed me as a victim. The legal team I was provided with [were] very inexperienced," she said.

"He was supplied a high ranking solicitor to defend him free of charge. Where I was supplied junior lawyers."

Both women want the DART process reinstated.

"There should be a separate body that you go to so you can get a fair trial and fair justice," the second woman said.

"Defence covered it up and I ended up getting discharged and lost my job for it when I shouldn't have. He should have."

The final report of the DART recommended complaints now be handled by the Defence Ombudsman.

People don't trust Defence or Government

Vietnam veteran Barry Heffernan, from the William Kibby VC Veterans Shed in Adelaide, has been providing welfare support to survivors of defence abuse for more than six years.

Barry Heffernan says many people still serving in the force fear retribution for speaking up. ( ABC News )

He believes there were hundreds and possibly thousands of current and former Defence employees who would come forward if they were given an opportunity to have their cases assessed by the DART process.

"There are people coming forward all the time, men and women who have served recently," he said.

"Some who are still serving but are really not comfortable in giving their details for fear of retribution being told you know if you say anything you'll be kicked out and there'll be all sorts of problems".

Mr Heffernan was awarded an Order of Australia Medal last year for services to veterans and their families.

He said a royal commission should be held into abuse in the ADF because victims simply do not believe the Defence Ombudsman would be able to properly investigate complaints.

"Now the Government's decided to wipe its hands of the DART and put it to an Ombudsman.

"People aren't going to come forward because they don't trust the Government they don't trust Defence to investigate Defence."

The final report of the DART dismissed the possibility of a royal commission being held to investigate Defence abuse because "a royal commission would not hold abusers to account and would be unlikely to uncover any significant new information or insight into abuse in Defence, given the information that is already available from the Taskforce and other reviews and inquiries".

Nick Xenophon Team Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore has backed the call from the women for a new DART process.

In a statement, Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan said the Government had this month announced expanded powers for the Defence Force Ombudsman, which will take effect from December 1, 2016.

"The new DFO powers will complement reforms undertaken in Defence to prevent and respond to abuse," the statement said.