Depending on the hospital you do your Grad year at depends on how that year will fold out for you. Most hospitals have 2 rotations. When you apply for a position in the hospital grad year (you can apply to a max of 4 hospitals in Vic) you nominate your areas of preference for your rotations. The hospital can not guarantee you will get what you ask for although a few guarantee you will get one of your top 5.
I highly recomend doing a Grad Year. It is kind of like driving, when you get your P's you think you know everything... but it's not until you're out on the road that you REALLY learn.

When I did clinicals, I had to call the hospitals first to see if there was any possibility they could place me. In most cases, I was asked by the hospital if I had a preference for a ward. There was only once where I didn't get my request and that was because it was a small hospital and the ward I had requested was actually shut when I got there.

I didn't work in a hospital during my degree. Nursing students who have completed first year are very attractive to Aged Care Facilities to work as PCA's (Patient Care Assistant). After you have completed ALL second year subjects, you are able to register as an Enrolled Nurse - however you have to do a Mental Health course with the Nurses Board in SA first (because you have to register in the State/Territory you studied (or are studying) in before you can register elsewhere. Just contact the nurses board to double check the requirements though in case they have changed.

MG