POLICE say a bomb threat to Warrnambool’s St Joseph’s Primary School on Wednesday morning is linked to hoaxes around the country. 

The school’s 590 students were evacuated just before 10am after receiving a “very threatening” automated phone message. 

Warrnambool police sergeant Callum McKinnon said the call was the same as those made to other schools across the state. 

Schools in Mildura and Shepparton were also evacuated on Wednesday. On Tuesday, 17 Victorian schools were locked down. Similar calls have been received in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and the ACT since Friday. 

St Joseph’s principal Michael Gray said staff had spoken about the threats on Wednesday morning and revised their emergency management plan. 

He said after the call was received staff notified police who checked over school buildings, grounds and the surrounding area. The area was declared safe at 10.45am. 

“We are very appreciative of the police’s prompt response,” he said. 

The education department said while the calls were similar to others received across the state, the threats were taken seriously. 

"The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is always our number one priority,” a spokesman said.

Education Minister James Merlino said police were investigating whether some of the calls originated from Nossal High School in Berwick and whether its telecommunications systems had been hacked.

10.15AM: St Joseph’s Primary School in Warrnambool was evacuated on Wednesday morning.

Emergency services were called to the school about 10am. 

Uniformed and plain clothed police were seen walking around the school building and land around the area. 

Checks of the school building and grounds found nothing and students returned to class just before 11am.