Congrats guys! I can help you out with accomm cos I'm about to start 3rd year.
Well, first year is all theory and at the main Parklands campus. Its called Foundation Year Health so you're with exercise science, pharmacy etc for all your classes. It's a different campus to the hospital.
Griffith Uni Village (not to be confused with University Village) is the closest by far, and is pretty much ON campus (joined by an air bridge across the highway). Max 10 min walk to lectures, min 10 sec walk (you can see one of the lecture theatres from your window- i was always tempted to go in my PJs). However it doesn't have any shops nearby, except a mini convenience store which has bread, milk, icecreams etc but no meat or veg so you still have to go grocery shopping (plus its massively overpriced). GUV is the biggest accomm (500ish people) so can be loud, lots of parties, but I guess its only as crazy as you want it to be. You have your own bedroom door (obviously) and apartment door so it's not like youre surrounded by people all the time if you don't want to be.
Nexus and Metro are the same sorta things as GUV (but smaller) except they aren't so close, and you need to either bike, drive or get the shuttle or campus.
University Square is on the highway aroung the corner from the uni, so about 15 min walk to most lectures, max 20 min walk. It has the advantage of being in a group of shops so there's like subway, DVD shop, petrol station etc. Still not near a grocery store though. But crawling distance from the tavern which hosts student night once a week if thats a priority lol.
University Village: I've heard of it but never been there so sorry I dont know anything about it.
When you start 2nd year, everyone (pretty much) moves into rental houses in the streets around the hospital. Because after first year you dont have any classes at the main campus, they're all at the hosp, so everyone rents places within walking distance of the hosp, usually with friends they've made in 1st year. You'll prob be ready to move out of college/village after a year anyway.
Edit: just re-read this, apologies for all the spelling typos! blame it on lack of sleep/little sisters 18th last night