HCANZA 2024 Awards nominations

Ariana Rangi-Sauni, Equity Lead Wellness Support Team - Health Equity Award

Nomination: Ariana's rich heritage includes whakapapa to Ngati Hauiti, Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi, Taranaki, and Ngati Raukawa ki te Tonga. Her profound commitment to improving health equity is evident in her work as a health coach and in her leadership roles.

Career Journey: Ariana's career journey has been diverse and impactful. Starting as a Bi-lingual/Bicultural Teacher, she transitioned to the NZ Customs Service and then to a Workplace Drug Testing Technician. She ultimately found her calling at Tāmaki Health, where she trained as a Health Coach and became the Health Coach Training Coordinator. Ariana has since progressed to become the Equity Lead for the Wellness Support Team and Pou Taura Whiri - IPMHA Māori Advisor to Tu Whakaruruhau. Through these roles, Ariana has grown and developed a deep understanding of the inequities in health and social settings, consistently challenging systems and our own organisation to "do better."

Advocacy for Equity: As the Equity Lead of the Wellness Support Team at Tāmaki Health , Ariana has driven an equity-focused journey with the team and for the organisation as a whole. She has facilitated the formation of Equity Groups, led purposeful discussions, and created opportunities for knowledge sharing. Her work aims to foster better equitable practices and influence strategic processes, promoting a mindset of belonging for both staff and patients (Whaiora). The range of the groups includes Mahuri Totara – for Rangatahi youth, Rainbow/Takatāpui advisory group, Te Moananui a Kiwa – Pacifika Collective, and Huitahi – Māori Practitioners. Each of these groups has delivered trainings and influenced the development of services and policy within our health network.

Ariana's approach moves beyond concepts and discussions to action-based methods, transforming behaviours from numbers-focused to people-centred. She celebrates differences by identifying barriers and engaging with learnings from the past, present, and future. Ariana embraces the notion that being comfortable with discomfort is a tool for continuous improvement.

Regional Impact: In her current role as Pou Taura Whiri - IPMHA Māori Advisor to Tu Whakaruruhau (Auckland Wellbeing Collaborative), Ariana continues to champion health equity. She facilitates the implementation of Hua Oranga, a Tikanga-informed holistic wellbeing screening tool, as standard practice among Health Coaches and Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs) in clinic settings. Through workshops with Primary Health Care organizations and NGOs, she promotes better contextual understanding and implementation of Hua Oranga (a culturally informed holistic wellbeing screening tool) for both Māori and non-Māori. Ariana also sits in our Tāmaki Health - Health Equity forum which covers our entire network of clinics influencing design and delivery of services targeting specific health targets to improve outcomes for patients.

Ariana also facilitates the "Ko Wai Au?" program, fostering cultural self-confidence and the concept of a culturally safe space through mentoring (Tuakana). This program helps participants understand and embrace their cultural identities, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare environment.

Leadership for change: Ariana's vision for improving equity is clear: she seeks to transform healthcare practices by integrating cultural awareness, fostering a sense of belonging, and implementing holistic wellbeing measurement tools. Her unwavering dedication to these principles makes her an outstanding candidate for the Health & Wellness Coach of the Year award.