Background

We are an adventurous Australian couple who worked two winter seasons in the role of Chalet Couple in Montchavin at Chalet De La Vanoise in 2019/20 & 2020/21. We both completed the Snow Cooks Chalet Couple Course in 2019. We are again traveling to Europe in November 2025 and are again keen to work as a Chalet Couple. Our responsibilities as Chalet Couple at Chalet De La Vanoise are detailed in the accompanying resume. Our day jobs in Australia are as follows: Mike has been a police officer for 21 years. We are currently living in a remote part of Western Australia where Mike is a Sergeant in a very busy and challenging location. Sandra currently works at the local school as an Education Assistant. My previous employment includes 2 years working as a cook in a very busy small café. Professionally I have a Psychology/HR Management degree and had a career in Human Resources Management. Both Mike and I worked tirelessly to ensure the guests at our previous chalet had a holiday that exceeded their expectations. We did this by cooking and serving delicious meals, keeping the chalet clean and tidy, suggesting and booking activities, dinners and places to ski. We loved creating and adapting menus to suit the guests such as children’s menus, vegetarians, vegans and allergies. On the slopes Mike and I would consider ourselves intermediate skiers. We love the alpine climate and would often simply ski to a bar to enjoy the views (with a cheeky drink!). At home we love all things outdoors. We love camping, hiking, cycling, and gardening. We have travelled extensively in Australia and Europe. Mike has an EU and an Australian passport, whilst Sandra has a UK and an Australian passport.

Job experience

• July 2023 -
  Police Officer - Mike McCague
  Western Australian Police Force
  

  Western Australia, Australia

  Mike is currently a Sergeant at a remote town in NW Western Australia. His role includes supervising police officers, rosters, reports, attending callouts. This is an extremely busy role in a challenging environment.

• January 2023 - present
  Education Assistant - Sandra Booth
  Halls Creek District High School
  

  Western Australia, Australia

  Sandra's role involves assisting special needs and other challenged students in the K-2 classes. Duties include trying to keep students in class and engaged with their learning. Working one on one or with small groups of students on activities as directed by the teacher. Consoling and ensuring a safe space for students who are disengaged and not capable of being in the classroom in the hope that they will re-enter the classroom and re-engage. Assist the teacher and deputy as needed.

• May 2021 - August 2022
  Cook - Sandra Booth
  Cafe Mojo
  

  Perth Western Australia, Australia

  Prepare meals to order in a busy cafe ensuring consistency in presentation. Ensure hygienic and clean kitchen during and after the shift. Prepare bulk ingredients and menu elements for weekends. Assist cafe owner/chef in menu design. Supervise junior kitchen staff including apprentice chef. Carry out weekly stocktake ensuring stock is rotated. Assist at front counter and waiting tables as required.

• December 2020 - March 2021
  Chalet Clouple
  Chalet de la Vanoise
  

  Montchavin, Tarentaise, France

  We returned to work as a Chalet Couple during the winter season that was disrupted by Covid. In this role we welcomed and served primarily French guests. We catered using the menu we created the previous season however the service was more buffet style. We researched and planned how to clean the chalet to a Covid standard and maintained this high level of sanitation and hygiene throughout the season. We did the weekly stocktake and shop. We cleaned the rooms and chalet, and did the laundry.

• December 2019 - May 2020
  Chalet Couple
  Chalet de la Vanoise
  

  Montchavin, Tarantaise, France

  As a chalet couple we worked with the chalet owners to develop the menu which included children's, vegan, vegetarian options. We prepared and served breakfast, afternoon tea, and 3-5 course evening meals with a separate menu for children for up to 20 guests. We welcomed the guests ensuring our guests had all their questions and queries answered. We cleaned the guest rooms, common rooms, spa and sauna. We cleaned the snow from the paths and car parking area. We did a weekly stocktake and did the weekly shop. We undertook minor maintenance where needed and reported more major issues to the Chalet owners. We managed the laundry and laundered the towels in house. This role was cancelled due to Covid in March 2020. From then to May 2020 we lived in the chalet and completed a number of maintenance jobs including laying floor tiles in several of the guest rooms, laying floor boards on new patio, interior and exterior painting, building a new store room.

• Chalet Host / Cook course
  Snow Cooks, Peisey - Nancroix, Tarantaise
  

  March 2019 - May 2019

  We were able to complete the above course on line with Melanie Lowe through her Snow Cooks company whilst being based in Australia. We attended weekly sessions via Zoom meetings and completed the classwork that Mel sent us. We held dinner parties with our friends to practice and cook the menus Mel sent us. We sent photos of our plated meals for Mel to assess.