Can I create staff as a resource?

Creating staff as a resource is possible. Also check the events with people planning.

To see what options there are for setting up your staff as a resource have a look at the topic What are the various resource types?

You could even set how many staff members are available per discipline.
For example, add a new resource named Head Chef or Guide, set the resource type to Personnel and number available to 2 etc.

You can also configure per object how many resources a booking or participant needs. In this way you can prevent bookings being made where linked staff are busy or unavailable.

For resource type personnel you could define individual staff members as resources and then in the Personal details block, link them to a login account. In this way they could possible view their own agenda.