DiPierdomenico, the 1986 Brownlow Medallist and an icon of the game, was stood down from his role after admitting to using racist comments at a football function in June.
However the former Hawthorn champion has since completed a series of educational meetings and seminars with indigenous and cultural groups across Australia.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said DiPierdomenico had shown he had learned from his discussions with indigenous communities across NSW, Victoria and the Northern Territory and would now resume his duties.
“Robert has spent much of the past six weeks visiting communities and has gained a greater understanding of the richness, diversity and circumstances of indigenous communities,” Demetriou said.
“Robert has told us how much he has learned from the trip and we have had a positive response from the communities to Robert’s acknowledgement of his mistake and his desire to engage, share and learn more about indigenous Australia.”
DiPierdomenico said the cultural development program, developed by the AFL’s community engagement manager, Jason Mifsud and cultural strategy and education manager Sue Clark, had turned a negative incident into a positive learning opportunity.
DiPierdomenico’s program took in Framlingham Aboriginal Mission, the Brambuk Cultural Centre at Gariwerd (Hall’s Gap) and Lake Condah in Victoria, Redfern, Campbelltown and Blacktown in NSW, the Tangentyere Council in Alice Springs, as well as Darwin and Katherine in the NT.
“I learned a lot about the work of indigenous leaders and their work in educating, mentoring and creating jobs for young and old indigenous people as well as the strong family focus of the communities,” DiPierdomenico said.
“My travels have further opened my eyes to Australia’s indigenous culture and the many ways we can educate Australia.”
Demetriou said DiPierdomenico would return to his role immediately. He also said the AFL would look at refining the cultural development program that DiPierdomenico undertook and extending it to other senior staff across the industry.
