Kaz, in my experience, don't wait for them to tell you what "hospital policy" is - ten different ppl will tell you ten different things. Instead, you tell them what you want, keep repeating it everytime you're there and ask how they can help facilitate it. Write it through your birth plan. On the day, tell people again. In my case (here in the ACT, public hospital, elective CS) I stated directly that I wanted skin to skin contact IN THEATRE and that a midwife was to be made available so I could feed in recovery. Even minutes before the CS they were telling me, no, it's busy today, don't know if we can do it, but in the end the theatre midwife 'made time' and made it happen for us. It was the best thing that could ever have happened and those first few hours passed in a blur of happiness. Good luck!
I could have written this word for word - maybe it was the same hospital? I was SO UPSET at having an elective CS (breech bub) and when they said their policy was no baby or hubby in recovery, I just lost it. Nothing was going right for my first pregnancy, all those dreams and visions of this perfect birth.... But i spoke with my doctor and was advised that i should insist on it because they legally are not allowed to separate mum and bub without mum's permission. Apparently.

So I insisted, a midwife was made available and I had both DD and DH in recovery with me and it was beautiful. I am so glad I have those precious memories. It was extremely important for me to get that skin contact and first breastfeed established ASAP. The recovery staff even mentioned how unusual it was to have a bub in the recovery suite and how cool it was - I think everyone came for a peek at the brand new bubby! LOL i didnt care, I was in bliss....

Good luck - I hope your recovery experience is as great as mine was - it was really worth the fight!