A former high school student who was severely burnt at an army training course is suing the state and federal governments for compensation.

A writ lodged in the Victorian Supreme court states the student from MacRobertson Girls High School cut her finger with a knife, fainted, and then fell into an open fire while on a school camp at Heathcote in 2009.

The court document states the girl was on a survival exercise where she was required to prepare her own dinner without supervision.

The girl is suing for compensation and loss of earnings after she suffered severe burns, facial disfigurement and post traumatic stress as a result.

The State Government ran the camp and Federal Government employed staff at the army cadet camp. They are both being sued for negligence.