Melbourne teacher, jazz pianist, probed over alleged assault
A Melbourne jazz pianist and teacher is being investigated after an alleged assault on a student at an eastern suburbs secondary college.
Police & Courts
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A well-known Melbourne jazz identity and teacher is under police investigation following an alleged assault on a student at an eastern suburbs secondary college.
Forest Hill police are expecting to charge Steve Sedergreen on summons with the unlawful assault of a Blackburn High student last Wednesday.
It is understood an alleged physical altercation took place in the last period of the day, with shocked classmates looking on.
It is believed the alleged assault involved Mr Sedergreen “slapping” a year eight student.
A person at the school, who did not want to be identified, said the student had been messing around with hand sanitiser shortly before the alleged incident happened.
Another source said the student was also grabbed around the neck as well as slapped.
The school informed the boy’s family and has prohibited Mr Sedergreen from working on the campus while an investigation takes place.
Mr Sedergreen, a talented and charismatic performer, is a well-established figure on the Melbourne jazz scene.
Victoria Police confirmed that “Forest Hill police conducted an investigation into an alleged assault at a Blackburn North school”.
“It’s alleged a teacher assaulted a student on Wednesday, 22 February. The male student did not require any medical treatment,” the police statement said.
“A 57-year-old Richmond man was interviewed on 28 February and is expected to be charged on summons with unlawful assault.”
A spokesman for the Department of Education said an “investigation is taking place and the staff member will not work on school grounds while this process continues.
“The health, safety and wellbeing of students is paramount,” he said.
Support is being offered to the student and his family.
In a letter to parents, seen by the Herald Sun, Blackburn High principal Joanna Alexander said “any form of violence within our school is entirely unacceptable”.
“We are taking this matter very seriously and will investigate it thoroughly and will take action as appropriate,” she wrote.
Ms Alexander said the school had wellbeing supports in place for anyone affected by the incident.
“As this is currently a police matter we cannot comment further or discuss it,” she said.
Mr Sedergreen’s website states that “Steve’s passion for teaching jazz, as well as his unique hands-on approach, uses the best of both worlds — combining the relevant and necessary theory of music with the practicalities of performance experience.”
He formed Mistaken Identity in 1985 while at the Victorian College of the Arts and has performed at numerous festivals, including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the Sydney Festival.
He recently performed at the Stonnington Jazz Festival, the Eltham Festival, White Night and Melbourne’ International Jazz Festival.
Mr Sedergreen has also mentored members of the well-known Cat Empire jazz band.
He has a long association with Blackburn High and conducts group and private lessons.
He was due to perform a jazz show with other musicians this Sunday at the Central Club Hotel in Richmond.
At the time of writing, Mr Sedergreen was still registered as a teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. He has been a registered teacher since 2009.
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